Harry Potter star Johnny Flynn says private schools should be ‘burnt to the ground’
Actor Johnny Flynn has criticized the private school system, citing traumatic experiences with bullying and 'boarding school syndrome' during his youth. Flynn, who is set to play Lucius Malfoy in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series, noted that therapy helped him process the psychological impact of his education.
Why it matters
The comments highlight ongoing debates regarding the psychological impact of elite boarding school culture and the role of private education in society.
British actor Johnny Flynn, 43, has opened up about his childhood and the bullying he experienced while studying at Winchester’s Pilgrims’ School. Flynn attended the boarding school from the age of seven after securing a choral scholarship.Recalling the experience in a new interview with Radio Times, the actor said it had a lasting impact on him. “It was quite traumatic for me,” he said. “I think they should all be burnt to the ground, I don’t think private schools should exist.”Flynn also revealed that being separated from his family at such a young age affected him psychologically. He developed “little nervous tics” and said it took him years to fully understand the mental toll the experience had taken on him.Johnny Flynn says therapy helped him understand ‘boarding school syndrome’Flynn said therapy eventually helped him make sense of the pain associated with his childhood.
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