Hugh Grant complains about ‘creepy’ experience with his kids at the airport

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Hugh Grant is speaking out about a “creepy” travel experience.

The “Notting Hill” star, 64, took to X to criticize an immigration officer at Heathrow Airport in London, whom he said asked his children to confirm whether he and his wife were their parents.

“Just came through Heathrow with wife and children,” Grant wrote. “We all have the same last name (Grant) on our passports. Immigration officer engages my children in chit chat then whispers to them ‘Are these your Mum and Dad?’”

The actor described this encounter as “intrusive, insulting and creepy.”

In response to an inquiry from USA TODAY, a representative for Heathrow Airport noted that immigration matters are handled by Border Force officers, who are employed by the U.K.’s Home Office and are not Heathrow staff.

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According to a British government website, officers with the Border Force agency “will seek to establish the relationship between children and the adults who are accompanying them or who are meeting them on arrival” in the U.K.

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“If you are travelling with a child (under 18) and are not the child’s parent, or may appear not to be the parent (for example, if you have a different family name), we may ask you a few questions to establish your relationship with the child,” the page notes. “We will always do this as quickly as possible and in a way which is sensitive to the interests of the child and the adult involved.”

Grant has been married to Anna Eberstein since 2018, and they have three children together: John, 12; Lulu, 9; and Blue, 7. Grant also shares two kids with Tinglan Hong: Tabitha and Felix.

Speaking to Radio Times in 2020, Grant described fatherhood as “damned nice.”

“Anyone with young children would probably agree that it’s simultaneously the worst time in your life and the best,” he said. “On a day-to-day basis, as you tread on another broken toy with a hangover, it’s just awful. But when you look back at the photographs on your iPhone, you realise, ‘Oh, I have been extremely happy. This is very nice.’”