Jon Stewart calls Hugh Grant ‘a big pain in the ass’ & Hugh agrees with him

This was all over the news last week, but for whatever reason, none of us wrote about it. I think CB and I included it in the links a few different times. Anyway, Hugh Grant and Stephen Colbert were taking part in a charity fundraiser in which they basically sat around the Montclair Film Festival and talked sh-t. Which is always fun!

Jon Stewart was asked something like “Who was your least favorite guest on ‘The Daily Show’?” and Jon replied that the worst guest was definitely Hugh Grant in 2009, when he was promoting Did You Hear About the Morgans. Jon said Hugh “was giving everyone sh-t the whole time, and he’s a big pain in the ass.” When Jon played a clip from the film (a clip in which the studio had sent over), Hugh complained, “What is that clip? It’s a terrible clip.” Stewart replied, “Well, then make a better f–king movie.” Jon told the audience at the film festival that he would “never” have Hugh back.

Well, after that story percolated for a few days, someone must have told Hugh Grant. And instead of getting all pissy about it and threatening to sue, Hugh acknowledged his mistake. Hugh’s on Twitter! And he tweeted this:

[Via Hugh’s Twitter]

Is it wrong that I think that was a completely appropriate way to deal with that situation? I mean, obviously, Hugh is a dick. He’s always been kind of a douche, but he’s also well-known for being able to turn on the charm and wit… when he feels like it. Obviously, Jon Stewart didn’t publicly bad-mouth Hugh when this incident actually happened, and the only reason it came up now was because Jon Stewart was doing a charity appearance and someone reported on his comments. Hugh handled the criticism appropriately and said he was in the wrong. This is how professionals SHOULD act, I think – God knows, everyone has an inner bitch they have to unleash at times, but it’s nice to see someone acknowledge it and take the blame.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

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41 Responses to “Jon Stewart calls Hugh Grant ‘a big pain in the ass’ & Hugh agrees with him”

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  1. brin says:

    I agree, Hugh owned up to his inner bitch and handled the situation well…love him for that!

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      +1. This made me smile…

    • Stacey says:

      Agree.

      Meantime – Jon is so funny and cute and tall.

      • bluhare says:

        Tell me you’re kidding with the “tall” part. He IS funny and cute. But tall?

      • Lishka says:

        He’s like…5’7″ right? Hardly hitting his forehead on the doorway.

      • MyCatLovesTV says:

        Jon (in my dreams he is lying here beside me so I can just call him “Jon”) always jokes about how short he is. But he IS tall in the comedic saddle so that is true. Love him! He’s around my age and hot to me. Hot and funny. That’s fab in my book! This political season was comedy GOLD!

  2. Ms Kay says:

    Oh he IS the crème de la crème, an utterly rude bastard! Met him several times and that man farts upper than his a-hole! Interviewing him is a nightmare. And people say Cumberbatch has mouth diarrhoea? This one is the godfather of verbal diarrhoeas! But what makes him likeable is he knows it and assumes it to the core haha!

    He can be funny and witty at times in between 2 farts.

  3. lucy2 says:

    I like how both guys handled it – Jon kind of calling him out on his behavior, and Hugh owning up to it and admitting he was wrong.

  4. GoodCapon says:

    Well played, Hugh. Well played.

  5. Kimbob says:

    Yeah, I agree. Both seem to be just good, true pros, really.

    Take note people….a celeb admitting a faux pas is definitely an exception to the rule nowadays. In this day & age it seems most take the easy way out, & when confronted w/less than stellar behavior/actions, the “norm” is to loudly proclaim excuses & to point the finger to the alleged “real cause” of such bad behavior. You know, much along the lines of Cracken, Amanda Bynes….the list is endless, really.

    Seeing this is refreshing to me.

    • bluhare says:

      I remember his Tonight show appearance right after he got caught with the hooker. He didn’t make excuses then either.

      • Kate (newer one) says:

        I remember him earnestly trying to turn the conversation to the new movie, and saying that he didn’t want to blow his own trumpet, but… and then his face as he realised, and the audience just collapsed.

  6. Ally says:

    Hugh often talks about his grumpiness, I’m not surprised he responded this way. He recently made a documentary on the Levenson Inquiry over here in the UK. He’s really is a decent chap and actually has a brain, which is rare in movie stars.

  7. poppy says:

    nice that he owned it. just needs to work on not being that way. his comment about his child’s birth was very douschey -maybe he reviles his child’s mother but either put a condom on or act enthused about the life you brought into the world. well, unless you want your child to think you’re an asshole. in that case, carry on.

  8. carrie says:

    Every time that Hugh Grant came in a french TV show,he was a “good guest” (he tries to speack french ,he replies on stupid questions and he’s sarcastic on his career or his life)

    • Esmom says:

      I agree that he can be a good guest, I’ve seen him and found him charmingly humble and self deprecating. I think Jon Stewart can maybe be intimidating and therefore he might bring out the worst in people who are nervous. Also he was on the show to promote a crappy movie. He probably felt embarrassed about that and it came out as defensiveness and bitchiness.

      • T.C. says:

        Hugh was bitchy to Jon Stewart’s producer and behind the scenes people not directly to Jon. He is just defending his people.

  9. Esmom says:

    Small error in the first paragraph — I think you meant Jon and Stephen talked shit, not Hugh and Stephen.

    Part of me thinks Jon likely had worse guests but saw Hugh somehow as fair game to trash. Or maybe he really was the worst. Anyway, I think Hugh’s response was a good one. Refreshing that it didn’t turn into one of those twitter hissy fit battles like with Jonah Hill and that guy who encountered him at the hotel…

    • Nina W says:

      Yeah, I bet Jon has some serious horror stories to tell but I bet he picked Hugh because he had to pick someone and he probably was pissed Hugh messed with his crew and Hugh is a “safe” target because he is not that relevant (sorry, Hugh) and what’s he going to do about it when it gets back to him? Jon is smart enough to know Hugh can take a little public hit and handle it easily and graciously, as he did.

  10. keats says:

    Ok, so good for him owning up to being a monster, but how about focusing on being less of a jerkwad? I don’t want to be secretly hating you while I’m watching love actually for the 300th time.

  11. aims says:

    Yes Hugh is an ass, he knows it, but i love him.i think his response was perfect.

    His wit is always on point. Love British humor.

  12. mln76 says:

    I think I stopped finding Hugh charming when he put out a statement that he only met his newborn daughter for 30 minutes after a golf tournament and that he planned on disinheriting her. He may be honest about his douchery and have a cute accent but he is a colossal douchebag. Everyone is way too easy on him.

    • Esmom says:

      What?! I never heard that. I can’t imagine anyone saying that except as a (sick) joke.

    • LAK says:

      Clearly you don’t understand certain aspects of witty British humour. The kind that skates on a line where it could be offensive or not depending on your mood.

      Plus, whether or not he was serious, his subsequent actions as far as mother and daughter are concerned show that he is taking care of them, and not just posting a monthly cheque.

      Hugh Grant has always been very clear about being a commitment phobe. And that includes children. However, he is a doting godfather to Liz Hurley’s son, and to his own daughter. And he has talked about how much he enjoys Jemima Khan’s sons.

      He is grumpy because he is super intelligent and super embarrassed that he has made his money as a movie star rather than some other intellectual pursuit, and he doesn’t hide this aspect of him.

      And he is as good as his word because he rarely makes movies anymore. He turns down many, many scripts because he hates the business.

      And he is not out there trying to make himself likeable in the pursuit of more money or visibility.

      When he steps out of line, he owns his shit. Unlike 99% of famous people.

      • Esmom says:

        I’m with you except for giving him a pass on hating the business so publicly. He’s made plenty of money from his roles so biting the hand that feeds you is pretty poor form, no matter how intellectual you might be (reminds me about how the guy who played Mike Brady apparently was a bitch because he thought the show was beneath him and his theatrical background).

        It’s not like there aren’t tons of aspiring actors who’d give anything to get one of the parts he’s so ashamed of. Maybe he should make room for someone who wants the opportunity.

      • SandyStrange says:

        I get the joke but if he was ashamed of being an actor, why didn’t he pursue something more to his liking? Or did he just like the money? He could have atleast made some better movies.

  13. Ann says:

    Don’t like him, never have, never will. AND he’s looking like crap.

  14. Jayna says:

    Jon Stewart said he was a good guest during the interview. That it was behind the scenes he was a pain. Hugh is always a very funny interview, poking fun at himself. I love him for that. I saw Bridget Jones Diary on TV this weekend. He was so gorgeous back then.

    I don’t think he was happy back n 09 or maybe even now. He played just another version of himself in an average movie for money. He seemed to be drunk a lot at bars in photos. He agreed with Jon. I love that.

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      He’s always had that British style self-deprecating humor.

      I always find douchiness so much easier to tolerate when the douche in question owns it.

      Love him or hate him, the truth is that Hugh Grant is a funny guy.

  15. K-rock says:

    How long until Jon has him back on and they kiss and make up? I’d watch 😉

  16. Samigirl says:

    Good on him.

  17. boo says:

    Love this guy, I watch that Bridget diary movie every time I catch it on TV. He’s awesome now with his grizzled self. It must be hard being a pretty boy and getting older. I’m glad he owned what he did, it is refreshing, after hearing lilo give another lame excuse for whatever else she has been caught doing. She needs to talk to H. Grant about owning your life!

  18. Helvetica says:

    I love a man who owns his nastiness/faults. Good on you, Hugh.

  19. coconut says:

    In the first paragraph of the intro, you write, “Anyway, Hugh Grant and Stephen Colbert were taking part in a charity fundraiser in which they basically sat around the Montclair Film Festival and talked sh-t.” Should be Jon in there, not Hugh.

  20. Feebee says:

    Thank god for the likes of Hugh Grant. Life would be a bit boring without grumpy-asses to call out on their shit.

    He owns his grumpiness/rudeness. Not saying it’s okay but at least he CAN be charming. The worst are grumpy douches who are like that 24/7 and never apologise for anything.

  21. Rachel says:

    I love Hugh. That is all.