Greta Thunberg has opened up about her teenage life, admitting she’s never been drunk and worries about romance for fear of being vulnerable.
The 19-year-old Swedish climate activist also shared that she is extremely conscious in everything she does – just living on her tuition grant.
While she tries to walk everywhere instead of taking taxis, she made an exception at a time when she was forced to have security guards following Donald Trump’s public attack on her.
When Thunberg was named Time’s Person of the Year in 2019, then-President Trump tweeted after her speech to the UN General Assembly: “She seems to be a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!’
Greta Thunberg has opened up about her teenage life, admitting she’s never been drunk and worries about romance for fear of being vulnerable
Thunberg was forced to deploy security forces after Donald Trump’s public attack on her
Not surprisingly, Thunberg, then 17, faced an overwhelming barrage of death threats and media attention – forcing her to recruit security guards.
However, Thunberg got her revenge when Trump was kicked out of the White House, tweeting: “He seems like a very happy old man looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!’
Speaking to Times Magazine, Thunberg admitted she will choose to walk home late at night rather than take a cab.
She said: “I always walk. Maybe I should be more careful… Probably I should be more careful. People tell me I should.’
“There was a time when I had security guards, but it only lasted a few days.”
Far from being a normal teenager, the three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee also said she doesn’t drink and has never been drunk.
She said, “I would never go drinking … I would never do anything … stupid, and I don’t know if that’s because I’m that kind of person or if it’s because I don’t want to be seen.” I think it could be both.’
Far from being a normal teenager, the three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee also said she doesn’t drink and has never been drunk
One of the reasons, she says, is because she doesn’t want anyone to brag about being the first person who can get her drunk.
She told the Times that she has the same concerns when it comes to romantic relationships.
“When I come to them, you are more vulnerable. So you have people who look up to you, but you’re also a lot more vulnerable,” she said.
Though not every teenager has turned to the UN, most have a go-to music playlist, and Thunberg’s include Queen’s classic hits Somebody to Love; KC and the Sunshine Band; Billie Jean; Blame it on the boogie and should I stay or go.
When she asked the Times interviewer if she’d ever reached out to other celebrities who rose to fame as a teenager — like Billie Eilish or Lily Allen — she said no.
One of the reasons, she says, is because she doesn’t want anyone to brag about being the first person who can get her drunk
The activist will publish her first book, The Climate Book, on October 27, and aims to be the handbook to understand what’s happening to the world, why and how it can be changed
“It’s difficult because in a way I feel like I’m just an activist – we know how to organize a strike, how to talk to politicians.
“But on the other hand, my position is very different [from other activists]. There are very few who have the experience of being a grassroots activist and also being stalked by the paparazzi.
“Someone recently told me I’m an influencer, but I don’t like it.”
Thunberg, who is still a student, said her least favorite subject in school is economics because it’s “this thing that we humans came up with and now we worship.”
The activist will release her first book, The Climate Book, on October 27 and aims to be the handbook to understanding what is happening to the world, why and how it can be changed.
The book features contributions from a wide range of experts, including Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; Saleemul Huq, Director of the International Center for Climate Change and Development; Silpa Kaza from the World Bank; Economist Thomas Piketty – to write about her specialty.
Thunberg, who is still a student, said her least favorite subject in school was economics because it’s “this thing that we humans came up with and now we worship.”
All proceeds from the book are intended to go to charity, she says, and while “it would be nice to have money,” she hopes to start a debate instead.
Thunberg lived on her student finance and said people would be “pissed off” if she got any money from her position.
She said: “I think we have a more or less moral obligation to be activists, but you can’t really make a living from that.”
“When it comes to artists or influencers, they can make money without people being mad at them, but I can’t.”
The activist admitted her financial situation was “unsustainable” and said she lives in a friend’s flat as all addresses in Sweden are public.
On her future prospects, she said, “Sometimes I think, ‘What am I going to do with my life?'” And it ends with, “I can’t predict anything. let’s vibe!” she said.