The Truth Behind Hugh Grant’s 1995 Arrest and Elizabeth Hurley’s Reaction
In the summer of 1995, British actor Hugh Grant found himself at the center of one of the decade’s most infamous celebrity scandals. Fresh off the massive success of Four Weddings and a Funeral, which had catapulted him to international stardom, Grant was arrested in Los Angeles for “lewd conduct in a public place.” The incident involved sex worker Divine Brown (real name Estella Marie Thompson) and took place in his parked car on a side street near the Sunset Strip.
According to reports from the time, Grant paid Brown $60 for oral sex. The encounter was interrupted almost immediately by police, who arrested both parties. Grant, then 34, was booked and released, his now-iconic sheepish mugshot quickly becoming tabloid fodder worldwide. He later pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge, paid a $1,000 fine, and completed an AIDS education program as part of his sentence. Brown, who had prior convictions, faced harsher penalties, including jail time.
Grant issued a swift public apology: “Last night I did something completely insane. I have hurt people I love and embarrassed people I work with. For both things I am more sorry than I can ever possibly say.” Just days later, he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where the host famously asked, “What the hell were you thinking?” Grant owned the mistake outright, describing his actions as “abominable” and expressing profound regret. This candid, self-deprecating approach—rare in celebrity damage control at the time—is widely credited with helping salvage his career rather than ending it.
At the heart of the scandal was Grant’s high-profile, eight-year relationship with model and actress Elizabeth Hurley (often referred to as Liz Hurley). The couple had long been regarded as one of Hollywood’s most glamorous pairs, frequently appearing together at red-carpet events.
Hurley’s initial reaction was one of deep shock and pain. She remained silent for several days before issuing a statement through Britain’s Press Association: “I am still bewildered and saddened by recent events and have not been in a fit state to make any decisions about the future.” In later interviews, including one with Barbara Walters, she described learning of the incident as feeling “like she had been shot.” Despite the devastation, she offered public support, attending events with Grant and standing by him as he worked to make amends.
Grant himself praised Hurley’s response during his Tonight Show appearance, calling her “amazing” and “very supportive,” and noting that they planned to work through it together. The pair remained a couple for several more years, ultimately parting ways amicably in 2000 after 13 years together. They have since maintained a close friendship—Grant has described Hurley as his “absolute best friend” and the first person he calls in a crisis, while she has reciprocated by calling him her best friend and speaking of their daily contact.
In recent years, Grant has reflected openly on the episode. In interviews, including a segment featured on 60 Minutes Australia, he has called himself an “idiot” for the lapse in judgment, attributing it in part to being in a “bad frame of mind” after disliking his performance in the film Nine Months, which released around the same time. He has emphasized taking full responsibility without excuses, a stance he believes helped him move forward.
The 1995 incident remains a defining moment in Grant’s life and career—one of poor judgment that exploded into global headlines but was ultimately navigated with unusual honesty and accountability. Far from derailing him permanently, it became a chapter that highlighted his ability to confront mistakes head-on, preserving both his public image and his long-standing bond with Hurley.
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