Richard Gere, known for his role in Pretty Woman, recently shared his thoughts on being banned from the Oscars for 20 years, a duration twice as long as the ban Will Smith received after the on-stage incident with Chris Rock.
In 2022, Will Smith was prohibited from attending the Oscars for a decade following the incident where he slapped Chris Rock on stage. This occurred after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s baldness, which initially elicited some laughs, including from Smith, until he noticed his wife was not amused. Smith then approached the stage, slapped Rock, and shouted: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth.”
In contrast, Richard Gere faced an even harsher penalty, being banned for two decades after he criticized the Chinese government during his presentation at the 1993 Oscars.
Gere, who practices Buddhism, had personal reasons for addressing the situation between China and Tibet. During the Oscars, he directly addressed the then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, urging for better human rights practices and advocating for Tibetan independence.
The actor’s speech, though warmly received by the audience, led to him being barred from the event until 2013.
In a recent interview, Gere commented on his prolonged ban, expressing that he did not take it “particularly personally.” He told Variety, “I didn’t think there were any bad guys in the situation.”
Gere explained his intentions, clarifying that he seeks to challenge anger, exclusion, and human rights abuses, while aligning with the principles of compassion and redemption.
Reflecting on the situation, Gere stated he did not bear personal grievances over the ban, despite its lengthy duration.
Although Gere rarely discusses the ban, he has previously addressed it. In a 2013 interview with HuffPost UK when the ban was eventually lifted, Gere humorously remarked on the situation, saying, “Apparently, I’ve been rehabilitated. It seems if you stay around long enough, they forget they’ve banned you.”