Hugh Grant calls “bullshit” on Piers Morgan’s claims he’s a “hypocrite” about working for the Murdochs

24 January, 2025

Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant has hit back at accusations of being a “hypocrite” by Piers Morgan on social media, branding the post “bullshit”.

The Notting Hill star has been a vocal opponent of tabloid misconduct, particularly cases of phone hacking. He recently settled a case with News Group Newspapers (NGN), publishers of The Sun, over alleged phone hacking and burglary by journalists. NGN have denied the claims.

In a new interview with Radio 4, he reacted to the UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s comments that the government will rule out a reopening of the Leveson Inquiry, a 2012 report into the conduct of the British press. He said: “I have some sympathy, when I’m in a generous mood, for politicians terrified of the Murdochs”, referring to the Murdoch Family, owners of NGN, led by Rupert Murdoch.

Morgan, who was editor of the NGN-owned papers News Of The World and The Sun, as well as hosting a show on the company’s Talk TV network, retweeted a clip from the interview on X (formerly Twitter) with the reply: “REMINDER: Hugh Grant took many millions of pounds from Rupert Murdoch to make movies for him. #hypocrite”

Hugh Grant said in his retort: “Bullshit. The last time I worked for a Murdoch owned company was in 1994. Which was long before I knew anything about his papers’ methods.

Since then, I have turned down every single job offer emanating from a Murdoch owned company”.

He made the films Nine Months and An Awfully Big Adventure with 20th Century Fox, then a Murdoch company. The films were released in 1995 but made in 1994.

Known for his romantic comedies, Grant has been enjoying success on the big screen in the horror genre with last year’s Heretic, described in NME’s review as “among the best horror films of the year”. His performance as a man who traps two Mormon women in a terrifying maze has scored him both Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.

Recently, he spoke of the 2009 flop that turned him from “hero to absolutely zero”. He also recalled the time he gave a child co-star a box of cigars as wrap present.

The post Hugh Grant calls “bullshit” on Piers Morgan’s claims he’s a “hypocrite” about working for the Murdochs appeared first on NME.