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Entertainment · 5 August 2026

Neil Patrick Harris explains why Barney was a "toxic manipulator"

Neil Patrick Harris explains why Barney was a "toxic manipulator"

Photo: Luiyo (CC BY SA 2.0)

Neil Patrick Harris, who played Barney in How I Met Your Mother, has called his character "toxic" and a "devil on Ted's shoulder." He told The Times that because the show's story is narrated by Ted, his character's extreme behaviours weren't necessarily true. Harris also said he wouldn't play Barney again unless the character seriously changed his ways.

Reported by Huffpost Uk · How we write briefs

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