The Academy Awards are undoubtedly Hollywood’s biggest night, routinely filled with snubs and surprises as we recognize the best performances of the year. Over the many decades it’s been on the air, the Oscars have also dealt with their fair share of controversy. Whether it’sWarren Beatty’sLa La Landmix-up, a streaker interruptingDavid Niven’s presentation,Rob Lowe’sduet from the depths of hell, or the recent and bizarreWill Smith/Chris Rockslap, theOscars have no shortage of shocking moments. One of the more shocking controversies that has stemmed from the renowned ceremony, however, isn’t typically talked about. So, let’s dig in to whyPretty WomanstarRichard Gerewas banned from the Oscars for ten years.
Richard Gere Is No Stranger to Controversy
Richard Gerehas been a popular member of the movie business for years, with movies such asChicago,Primal Fear,Days of Heaven, and, of course,Pretty Woman, being top of mind when audiences hear his name. Gere became known for his charming, debonair characters, typically playing “the gentleman type,” with one of the most famous examples being his role as Zack Mayo inAn Officer and a Gentleman.
However, though the part is often considered one of his best, drama behind the scenes was one of Gere’s earliest controversies.In an interview, Gere admitted he clashed with bothDebra WingerandLouis Gossett Jr., his costars in the film. While his feud with Winger was surprising to audiences, asthe two had remarkable chemistry, his on-set controversy with Gossett Jr. got physical. Gere said, “I love Lou, but Lou didn’t work as hard as me to learn the karate… I got a little frustrated with him once and I actually clocked him in the gut.” Gossett Jr. responded by walking off-set.
This ‘Peppa Pig’ Episode Was Pulled in Australia for Child Safety Concerns
Who knew a cartoon pig could cause such chaos?
Another controversy occurred in 2007. While attending an HIV Awareness event in New Delhi, India,Gere kissed actress Shilpa Shettyon stage. Outside the oddity of his unexpected behavior,the government proclaimed that the kiss broke the country’s “public obscenity” law.According to CBS News, “Under Indian law, a person convicted of public obscenity faces up to three months in prison, a fine, or both.” While Gere did not face any repercussions at first, Shetty became the target of public scrutiny. Eventually, arrest warrants were issued for both Shetty and Gere, though they would be dropped a year later. Shetty, however, would combat charges for some time. The charges were finally dropped 15 years later. On the home front, however, Gere had perhaps his biggest controversy yet whenhe was banned from the Academy Awards.
The ‘Pretty Woman’ Actor Went Off Script at the 1993 Oscars
Gere’s Oscar controversy began in 1993. According to anarticle fromThe Hollywood Reporter, Gere was a presenter at the 1993 ceremony. In a year dominated byClint Eastwood’s mega-hit,Unforgiven, Gere was to list the nominees for Best Art Direction. But the award winner (Howard’s End) would have to wait, asGere’s speech took an unexpected detour. Gere decided to take a stance on a political issue that he found troubling: “The horrendous, horrendous human rights issue” that was sweeping through China, per Gere’s words.
GQpublishedthe presentation Gere wassupposedto give:
“Rubens and Rembrandt. Michelangelo and Monet. Da Vinci and Degas. If they were around today, they would be art directors for films — if their agents could get them work. Art direction demands taste, talent, and the diplomacy to convince producers they also have taste and talent. Five widely different imaginative examples of their work are these nominees for best achievement in art direction.”
When Gere took the stage, however, his speech was quite different. “…if something miraculous, really kind of movie-like, could happen here, where we could all kind of send love and truth and a kind of sanity to Deng Xiaoping right now in Beijing, that he will take his troops and take the Chinese away from Tibet and allow people to live as free independent people again,” is just part of Gere’s unexpected rant. Following the call to action, Gere proceeded withthe award showas it was originally planned. Butthe Academy wasn’t happy with Gere’s actions, as the actor would soon find out.
Richard Gere’s Oscars Ban Has Conflicting Stories
The Hollywood Reportersays thatGere was promptly banned from attending, and indeed, he did not attend the show again for some time. Interestingly enough, however, the Academy made public claims regarding Gere toGQto the contrary, stating: “We don’t ban presenters.” But Gere insists he wasn’t welcomed. Furthermore, Gerehasn’t ever been nominatedfor the prestigious award, despite the fact that many of his performances have received nominations in other ceremonies, such as the Golden Globes. “I didn’t have to put on a tuxedo again. I was fine with that,” said the actor.
Further repercussions from the event manifested in Gere’s casting. According toTHR, Gere saw himself shunned by big Hollywood productions.TheLongingactor, however, did not see the banning of the major Hollywood studios as a bad thing. While he may not have been considered for some of the big-budget films to which he was used to, the actor found rewarding work in independent films. “I’m not interested in playing the wizened Jedi in your tentpole. I was successful enough in the last three decades that I can afford to do these [smaller films] now.” (He was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2018 for his performance inArbitrage.) However, major Hollywood studios weren’t the only moviemakers to ban the actor. Gere’s work is controversial in China. On the subject, Gere claimed: “There are definitely movies that I can’t be in because the Chinese will say, ‘Not with him.'” He elaborated, “I recently had an episode wheresomeone said they could not finance a film with me because it would upset the Chinese.” TheNights in Rodanthestar is also banned in China for life.
As far as the Oscars were concerned, however, Gere would return in 2003. Withthe success that wasChicago, Gere was invited to attend, though he was not among those nominated. Of his “redemption,” Gere quipped toThe Huffington Post: “Apparently, I’ve been rehabilitated. It seems if you stay around long enough, they forget they’ve banned you.” Richard Gere’s detour while presenting at the Oscars and his subsequent banning is just one of many unexpected happenings to come from the ceremony, and certainly not the last.
