Hugh Grant unleashed his frustrations on social media about a deeply "offensive" encounter he, his wife Anna Eberstein, and their children endured at London's Heathrow Airport on Friday. In a post shared on X on that same day, the 64-year-old British actor recounted, "We had just passed through Heathrow with my wife and kids, all sharing the same surname (Grant) on our passports."
He further alleged, "An immigration officer engaged in lighthearted chatter with my children before whispering to them, 'Are these your Mum and Dad?'" Grant lambasted the entire experience as "intrusive, insulting, and downright eerie," adding that he hadn't shared any further details about what transpired afterward. His representatives were also unavailable for immediate comment.
Page Six reached out to a Heathrow spokesperson, who quickly disclaimed any responsibility. "Border Force officers are employed by the Home Office/Border Force, not Heathrow staff. The immigration halls are managed by the Home Office/Border Force," the representative informed us on Saturday.
Page Six subsequently contacted the Home Office—the UK's governing agency responsible for public safety, policing, border security, immigration, passports, and civil registration—but we're still awaiting a response.
Grant shares three children with Eberstein—John, 12, and daughters Lulu, 9, and Blue, 6—whom he married in 2018. He also has two other children, Tabitha, 13, and Felix, 11, from his previous relationship with Tinglan Hong.
Surprisingly, several social media users came to the airport's defense, advising the father of five to appreciate that the staff were merely doing their job. One user posted on X, "It's for child safeguarding reasons. Be thankful the officer was doing their job correctly." Another echoed, "Actually, I'm quite proud of the immigration officer for doing this."
According to Heathrow's website, under the immigration and passports section, "If you're traveling with a child who has a different last name from yours or who isn't your own, you may be asked to confirm your relationship. You can expedite this process by bringing documents proving your relationship with the child and the purpose of your trip. This could include birth or adoption certificates, marriage or divorce certificates, or even a letter from the child's parent(s) permitting you to travel and providing their contact information."
It remains unclear whether Grant was aware of this policy beforehand or had presented the necessary documentation.
