Hugh Grant Furious Over ‘Creepy’ Question To His Kids At Airport: ‘Intrusive And Insulting’

64-year-old actor Hugh Grant has spoken out on social media following what he described as an “intrusive, insulting and creepy” encounter with an immigration officer at Heathrow Airport.

Hugh Grant shared the experience in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Friday.

In the post, Grant recounted a moment that occurred as he, his wife Anna Eberstein, and their children were passing through immigration. “Just came through Heathrow with wife and children. We all have the same last name (Grant) on our passports,” he wrote.

He went on to allege that an immigration officer engaged his children in small talk before leaning in to ask, “‘Are these your Mom and Dad?’” Grant, visibly displeased, criticized the exchange and has not shared any further details about what followed.

In response, a Heathrow Airport spokesperson clarified that immigration officers are employed by the Home Office’s Border Force and not by Heathrow directly.

“Border Force officers are employed by Home Office/Border Force. They are not Heathrow staff, and the immigration halls are managed by Home Office/Border Force,” the spokesperson told Page Six.

Grant and Eberstein, who married in 2018, share three children together: John, 12; Lulu, 9; and Blue, 6. Grant is also a father to two children, Tabitha, 13, and Felix, 11, from a previous relationship.

The actor’s complaint sparked divided reactions online, with some social media users defending the officer’s actions.

“It’s for child safeguarding reasons. Be thankful the officer was doing their job correctly,” one user wrote.

Another echoed the sentiment, adding, “Actually quite proud of the immigration officer for doing this.”

"With such high stats on child trafficking, I think it’s more than justified and necessary to explore conversations with children at airports," a third wrote.

"You wouldn't find it insulting if your kids were being trafficked," someone else chimed in.

Meanwhile, others accused the actor of being upset because he was not recognized as a Golden Globe Award winner.

"Are you upset there are child protection measures in place or that you weren't recognized?" someone asked.

"I think he is more upset that they did not realize it was Hugh Grant," another wrote.

Others shared their own experiences, with one X user claiming, "This happened to my friend traveling with her boys who have a different surname to her. The immigration guy asked her sons who she was, and one of them said he had only met her that morning. When she yelled at him, the immigration guy knew it was her son."

"This is standard operating procedure, my sisters and I were asked this multiple times," another wrote. "It’s their job to ask, if their line of questioning stops one child from being trafficked, then it’s worth it."

Heathrow’s official website notes that travelers accompanied by children who have a different surname or are not their own may be subject to additional scrutiny.

“If you’re travelling 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,” the site states. It also advises that travelers bring supporting documentation, such as birth or adoption certificates, marriage or divorce records, or a letter of consent from a parent.

It is unclear whether Grant was aware of the policy or if he provided the recommended documentation at the time of the incident.

While concerns about privacy and tone have been raised, the airport’s child safeguarding procedures are part of broader national efforts to prevent abduction and trafficking. The Home Office’s guidance encourages border officers to act on any uncertainties regarding a child’s welfare or travel circumstances.

Grant has not indicated whether he plans to pursue the matter further.