Hugh Grant, the British actor known for his roles in romantic comedies such as “Notting Hill” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” has been given the green light to proceed with his lawsuit against The Sun tabloid for alleged illegal snooping.
The lawsuit, which was filed in 2018, accuses The Sun of hacking into Grant’s voicemail messages and obtaining private information about his personal life. The actor claims that the tabloid’s actions were a violation of his privacy and a breach of the Data Protection Act.
Grant’s lawsuit is part of a larger investigation into illegal phone hacking by British tabloids, which has been ongoing since 2011. The scandal, which involved several newspapers including The Sun and its sister paper, the now-defunct News of the World, led to the closure of the latter and the arrest and conviction of several journalists and editors.
Grant has been a vocal critic of the tabloid press and their tactics, particularly in relation to their treatment of celebrities. In 2011, he gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry, a public inquiry into the culture, practices, and ethics of the British press. He described how he had been followed and harassed by paparazzi, and how his phone had been hacked by journalists looking for stories.
The Leveson Inquiry resulted in a report that recommended a new system of press regulation in the UK. However, the recommendations were not fully implemented, and the press remains largely self-regulated.
Grant’s lawsuit against The Sun is significant because it could set a precedent for future cases involving phone hacking and privacy violations by the press. If successful, it could also lead to further scrutiny of the tabloid press and their practices.
The trial is expected to take place in late 2021 or early 2022. Grant has said that he intends to donate any damages awarded to him to Hacked Off, a campaign group that advocates for press reform and supports victims of press intrusion.
In a statement, Grant said: “I’m delighted that the court has granted permission for my case against The Sun to proceed to trial. This case is not just about me, it’s about the dozens of other people who have been targeted by tabloid newspapers and had their privacy violated. I hope that this case will send a message to the press that these kinds of tactics are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The Sun has denied any wrongdoing and has said that it will defend itself against the allegations. A spokesperson for the newspaper said: “We refute these claims and will defend ourselves vigorously against them.”
