Hugh Grant Jokes About 1995 s=x Worker Scandal on The View

Renowned actor Hugh Grant made a rare jest regarding his infamous 1995 s=x scandal while appearing on the US talk show The View on Thursday (16 March).

Back in 1995, Grant was apprehended by the Los Angeles police for engaging in “lewd conduct” with a s=x worker named Divine Brown in a public setting.

Notably, he was romantically involved with actor and model Liz Hurley during that period.

During his appearance on The View, host Sunny Hostin raised a question to the 62-year-old actor about his advocacy against the British tabloid media.

Grant responded humorously amidst uproarious laughter from both the hosts and the live audience, acknowledging the public's perception of him as “bitter” due to the 1995 incident involving a s=x worker.

Interjecting into the conversation, co-host Whoopi Goldberg light-heartedly remarked, “But you know what, really, who hasn't?” Grant then clarified that the tabloids were not the initial source of the scandal information but rather, it was leaked by the police, emphasizing his stance against the invasion of privacy by powerful media entities.

Expressing his concerns, Grant criticized the behavior of influential newspaper owners, highlighting their ability to act above the law and intrude into the personal lives of individuals to create sensational news stories.

He underscored the fear within British society, particularly among politicians, in challenging these media conglomerates, asserting that the press often dictates political decisions in the country.

Grant's arrest occurred shortly after his rise to stardom in the film “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” labeling the incident as a moment of “insanity” in hindsight.

Over the years, Grant has seldom addressed the scandal publicly, maintaining a relatively low profile regarding the matter.

Following the scandal, it was reported that the now-defunct News of the World paid Divine Brown $100,000 for her story, where she alleged that Grant expressed a desire to fulfill a fantasy of sleeping with a Black woman.

Hurley, after a period of silence, reacted to the revelation by stating that she felt deeply wounded upon learning about Grant's involvement with a s=x worker.

As a consequence of the incident, Grant was fined $1,000 and mandated to participate in an AIDS education program.

Recently, the actor received backlash for his perceived awkward red-carpet interview with Ashley Graham at the Oscars, a moment that has since been addressed by the model.