Ben Okri: What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

The question

What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

“You don’t stand a chance of succeeding as a writer in this country. The demographics are against you.” They were wrong. The only demographic that counts is the human heart.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 July 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 122 →

Giovanna Fletcher

A friend and I were talking about eating disorders and he said: “Well, we never have to worry about you not eating.”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 February 2024 source ↗

Graydon Carter

“Didn’t you used to be Graydon Carter?”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 June 2025 source ↗

Frank Bowling

A fellow artist called me a flaneur!

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 June 2026 source ↗

Fiona Allen

The second agent I had said: “The thing is, you look like something but then you open your mouth.” So I got myself a sketch show and left, and she lost out.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 August 2026 source ↗