There may be a new twist in the Oscar mystery surrounding Richard Gere. For years, it’s been speculated that the Golden Globe Award winner had been banned from that event by the Academy.
It’s believed this ban was imposed in 1993 when the Chicago actor went off script to speak out about China’s policies in Tibet. While his speech garnered applause from the audience, the Oscars producer, the late Gil Cates, reportedly didn’t like this move. It’d been alleged for years that Richard wouldn’t get invited back for this reason. However, a new report questions whether any of this was true.
Richard Gere “was never banned from the Oscars,” claim multiple sources
Gil may not have approved of Richard’s presence, but it seems like he was in the minority on that front. “Richard was never banned from the Oscars,” an insider close to the actor revealed to Page Six. This was confirmed by a source connected to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
This news comes after Richard said in an interview last week that he didn’t take his alleged ban personally. He added that he’s never intended to harm anyone with his words. Gil apparently wasn’t a fan of actors using the Oscars to speak up about world causes. Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins previously gave speeches at the event criticizing the American government for holding HIV positive Haitian refugees at Guantanamo Bay.
Richard, who is reportedly banned from China, attended the 2003 Oscar ceremony when Chicago won Best Picture. He returned in 2013 for a reunion with the cast. In 2012, he was a special guest at a screening of An Officer and a Gentleman.
In April, the Pretty Woman actor said he was enjoying the new chapter of his life in Spain, his wife Alejandra Silva’s home country. Richard is currently promoting his new movie, Wisdom of Happiness, about his longtime close friend, the Dalai Lama. It is eligible for an Oscar nomination in the Best Documentary category.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK WE’LL EVER SEE RICHARD GERE ON STAGE PRESENTING AN AWARD AT THE OSCARS?
