Hugh Grant’s ongoing crusade against Rupert Murdoch’s media empire has spanned decades, starting with a defamation lawsuit he won in the mid-1990s over false claims of verbal abuse on set. Now, in the wake of Prince Harry’s victory over Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers (NGN) and their eventual admission to phone hacking, Grant is pushing for the reopening of the Leveson Inquiry and a potential criminal investigation into NGN’s activities.
Grant’s latest legal victory came in April, when he settled with NGN over phone tapping. Though he was forced to settle due to mounting legal fees, he was vocal about his frustration with the prolonged battle. This settlement, combined with NGN’s recent admission of phone hacking, reignited discussions about the Leveson Inquiry, which was originally formed after a series of media scandals. The inquiry produced a report with recommendations, such as creating an independent press watchdog and improving ethical standards among journalists, but many of these suggestions were not fully implemented.
In light of NGN’s recent acknowledgment of illegal practices, Grant and other victims of press abuse are calling for the implementation of Leveson 2, a follow-up investigation. However, the UK government, particularly the Culture Secretary, dismissed this idea, claiming that news consumption has moved online, and the old system is no longer effective. Despite this, Grant remains resolute, urging Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to protect the public from the criminal practices of large media corporations.
Grant also responded to Piers Morgan’s criticism, who accused him of hypocrisy for working with Murdoch-owned companies in the past. Grant quickly clarified that his last collaboration with Murdoch’s entertainment company was in 1994, long before he was aware of its unethical practices. Morgan, a long-time supporter of NGN, has vested interests in defending the company.
Grant concluded by stating that NGN has spent vast sums of money to avoid proper judicial scrutiny, and he believes that any new investigation would likely lead to criminal charges. For Grant, the fight is far from over, and he remains determined to hold the media giant accountable.
In the meantime, Grant is nominated for Best Leading Actor at the BAFTAs for his role in Heretic, and it’s possible that he will use this platform to continue advocating for the issues he’s passionate about.