Estella Marie Thompson, a.k.a. Divine Brown, got famous after she was arrested in 1995 with actor Hugh Grant. Now, three decades after the scandal, she is once again facing fresh legal troubles. According to the authorities, she has reportedly been labeled a “fugitive on the run” after she missed a court hearing related to criminal damage charges in Georgia.
Why is Divine Brown being called a fugitive?
According to the Daily Mail, Divine Brown was arrested in January 2026 after she allegedly smashed the windshield of her landlord’s car. Prosecutors have claimed that the incident has resulted in more than USD 500 in damage. She was eventually ordered to appear before a DeKalb Superior Court judge for a plea hearing in October 2026.
However, she failed to show up to the hearing. This has now led Judge Desiree S. Peagler to issue a bench warrant for her arrest. When a reporter contacted her, she appeared to be unaware of the warrant. Instead, she said: “Are you kidding me? Oh, wow. I will have to call them immediately.” Divine is reportedly facing other legal trouble.
She has also been facing other legal troubles over the years, like a 2022 case where she allegedly attacked a 13-year-old child. Later, Divine reached an agreement and admitted to a misdemeanor family violence battery charge.
For those who don’t know, Divine became famous in June 1995 when she was taken into custody with Hugh Grant in Los Angeles. The British actor came to visit the city when police caught the pair in his car near Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. Hugh had reportedly paid Divine USD 60 for oral sex. Eventually, their arrest and mugshots became international news.
Later, Divine was sent to six months in jail after she pleaded no contest to misdemeanor lewd conduct. The scandal also violated her probation following earlier prostitution convictions. Meanwhile, Hugh was fined, and he was ordered to attend an AIDS education program. Shortly after the arrest, he made a public apology. The actor said that he had embarrassed people he cared about and worked with.
In fact, the controversy also affected Hugh’s relationship with actress Elizabeth Hurley. For those who don’t know, they had been dating since 1987. The actress later revealed that the incident had left her feeling like she was shot. Despite all the public embarrassment, she stood by him for several more years before their split in 2000.
On the other hand, Divine used her sudden media attention to build a new career. She gave interviews, appeared on television, modeled lingerie, and entered the adult entertainment industry. At the time, Divine reportedly earned around USD 1.6 million from interviews and public appearances.
It also included a reported payment of USD 150,000 for a tell-all interview with News of the World. Divine also appeared in Penthouse magazine and played herself in projects based on the scandal. Initially, all the money helped her to leave prostitution, buy a home in Beverly Hills, and pay for her daughters’ education. However, her financial situation declined over the years. At last, she had to move to Atlanta, Georgia.
What happened to Hugh Grant after the scandal?
In contrast to Divine Brown, Hugh Grant managed to rebuild his Hollywood career. He went on to rebuild his Hollywood career and became one of Britain’s most recognizable actors. The actor was seen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where he openly addressed his arrest. This helped him regain public support.
Later, he also featured in successful films including Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’s Diary, About a Boy and Love Actually. On his personal front, Hugh tied the knot with Swedish television producer Anna Eberstein in 2018. They welcomed three children. Meanwhile, the actor also has two more children from his relationship with Tinglan Hong. Grant, now a father of five, has largely kept his family away from public attention.
What do you think about Hugh Grant and Divine Brown’s old scandal?
Pic credits: IMDb, Wireimage, Instagram
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