Hugh Grant did not hold back when discussing the rules over screens at his children’s ‘ridiculous posh private schools.’
The Bridget Jones actor shares three children with his wife Anna Eberstein: John Mungo, 12, Lulu, nine, and Blue, seven.
He also welcomed Tabitha, 13, and Felix, 11, from his previous relationship with Tinglan Hong.
The Heretic star is currently campaigning for schools to introduce more outdoor play at school, drawing on his experience with his children in education.
Hugh described himself as ‘another angry parent fighting the eternal, exhausting and depressive battle with children who only want to be on a screen’ during an event at Knightsbridge School in London this week.
The Notting Hill actor slammed the ‘pathetic’ rules these ‘kind of ridiculous posh private schools’ have when it comes to screen time.
‘They’re the ones saying they’re not going to play outside today because it’s raining, or they can’t go on the climbing frame because it’s windy,’ he began according to The Telegraph.
‘It’s pathetic — it seems to me that there is space here for a hero school, a set of schools to break the mould.’
‘The final straw was when the school started saying, with some smugness, “We give every child a Chromebook, and they do a lot of lessons on their Chromebook, and they do all their homework on their Chromebook,” and you just thought that is the last f*****g thing they need, and the last thing we need.’
The event was also attended by Dr Jonathan Haidt as well as Peep Show actor Sophie Winkleman, who slammed ChatGPT use by students and teachers alike, asking ‘what’s the point of school?’
‘We were sold a dream that technology would revolutionise education, personalise learning and prepare kids for a digital future. Billions of dollars and pounds later, where are we?,’ she continued.
‘Test scores are plummeting globally. The increased screen use is damaging children’s health.’
They aren’t the only celebrities taking a stand against technology, with ex-footballer Jamie Redknapp, actor Benedict Cumberbatch and singers Rachel Stevens and Paloma Faith signing the ‘Parent Pact.’
The campaign, which has more than 100,000 signatures so gar, aims to get families to commit to delaying giving their children a smartphone until they turn 14 and social media until they turn 16.
The NGO said: ‘Delaying smartphones becomes possible when we do it together.’
The group added: ‘In every corner of the UK, at 40% of schools in the country, families are committing to wait until at least 14 before getting their kids’ smartphones.’
What is the 'Parent Pact'?
According to the Smartphone Free Childhood website: ‘Founded in February 2024 after one WhatsApp group went viral, we’re now a community of over 200,000 parents working together to change the culture around kids and smartphones.
‘We’ve made it our mission to provide solidarity, support and solutions to parents who are struggling with what’s become one of the defining parenting challenges of our time.
‘And we’re using the voice of our community to push for more support from the government in the battle to reclaim childhood from Big Tech’s addictive algorithms and devices.’
The mission of the Parent Pact is to ‘to use the growing groundswell of support for this movement to create lasting change for children.’
You can sign the pact online here.
It comes after Hugh opened up on a ‘creepy’ airport incident that occurred with his children, who he largely keeps out of the public eye.
On X, the Notting Hill star wrote: ‘Just came through Heathrow with wife and children. We all have the same last name (Grant) on our passports.
More Trending
‘Immigration officer engages my children in chit chat then whispers to them “Are these your Mum and Dad?” Intrusive, insulting and creepy.’
Hugh has been open about how much he enjoys being a father, even joining his kids at concerts like BlackPink and Taylor Swift.
While on the SmartLess podcast, Hugh was asked about his children and shared: ‘I had them much too old in life. You know I started when I was 52.’
‘I think I was a dried-up, middle-aged, golf-addicted Englishman,’ he added. ‘Then I had children and suddenly I had heart and I had more layers, or something.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Full list of 750 free school breakfast clubs opening today
MORE: Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley’s turbulent dating lives after ‘confirming’ romance
MORE: ‘Andrew Tate phenomena’ sweeping schools with boys ‘barking at female teachers’
