Richard Gere will be in Cannes this year: why was the Pretty Woman star banned from the Oscars for 20 years?

It is not uncommon for a Hollywood star to be ignored by the Academy for several decades. In fact, there are a number of worthy actors who, surprisingly, have never been nominated for an Oscar during their careers. Richard Gere is part of the list: in his almost 50-year career, he has never been nominated for a Golden Statue, despite such prestigious films as An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and super hits such as Pretty Woman (1990). But unlike many of his colleagues, his case has an explanation: he was completely banned from the Oscars for 20 years!

Even if the reasons why Will Smith, Roman Polanski and Harvey Weinstein were declared persona non grata are obvious, it is surprising that Richard Gere The Oscars were banned. After all, a 74-year-old man is not really the type to create a scandal. It’s all one…

political side

At the 65th Academy Awards in 1993, the Private Affairs (1990) star presented the award for Best Production Design, which went to Luciana Arrighi and Ian Whittaker for Return to Howards End (1992). However, instead of simply congratulating the winners, the actor took the opportunity to criticize the Chinese government for its treatment of the people and Tibetans. The actor is a longtime follower of Tibetan Buddhism and a harsh critic of China.

So he quickly turned away from the words on his teleprompter to focus on the problem: “Knowing how dire and appalling the human rights situation is in China, I wonder if we could all send some love, truth and a little sanity to Deng Xiaoping in Beijing right now. And let these people live as free and independent people“- he said later.

Deng Xiaoping was the chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China and unofficially the number one leader of the People’s Republic of China.

Listen to his speech in the video below (original version):

Ban and single return

Therefore, this dedicated speech not only got him banned from entering China for life, but also a 20-year ban from Oscar. However, he was allowed to return ten years later to attend the 2003 ceremony, when the musical Chicago, in which he played lawyer Billy Flynn, was nominated for 13 awards – and won 6, including best picture.

The actor also attended the 2013 Academy Awards, again 10 years later, to present the awards for Best Motion Picture Soundtrack and Best Original Song along with his co-stars. Chicago : Queen Latifah, Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

In a brief comment on the subject for the Huffington Post, he said:It seems that I have been rehabilitated. Apparently, if you hang around long enough, they forget you’ve been banned.“

direction skin

Richard Gere He will soon be seen in The Making Of opposite Diane Keaton and Blake Lively. He will also star alongside Diane Kruger in Longing by Savi Gabizon.

Finally, he’ll be seen principally in Paul Schrader’s comedy-drama Oh Canada, a film with Uma Thurman and Jacob Elordi that’s in competition at Cannes this year—a festival he’s eligible to attend!

Meanwhile, his latest film, a romantic comedy Yes I want? (2023) Michael Jacobsin which he also played on the side Diane Keatonor William H. Mays and Susan SarandonAvailable to stream on Paramount+.