Home : Wacky & Weird : Down with Gere!

Down with Gere!

Posted Apr 16th 2007 11:28AM by TMZ Staff

Hindu nationalists are burning Richard Gere in effigy -- no, not because of "Shall We Dance," but because of his over-affectionate behavior toward a popular Bollywood actress.

Photographs hit front pages of newspapers in India today, showing Gere kissing Shilpa Shetty on the cheek at an AIDS awareness event in New Delhi -- where public displays of affection are taboo. In protest, members of the right-wing Hindu nationalist group, Shiv Sena, beat burning effigies of Gere with sticks and burned pictures of Shetty.

In the video, Gere can be seen kissing Shetty several times on the hand before hugging and kissing her on the cheek -- cheered on by fans the entire time. When Gere took to the mic, he led to the crowd in a "No condom, no sex" chant in Hindi.

Shetty came to the defense of Gere today, saying, "I understand that it might have looked like he went slightly overboard, but that was really not the intention. His intention was that of entertaining the people. "

Tags: richard gere, RichardGere, Shilpa Shetty, ShilpaShetty

Comments [49]
SHARE |
4ie6

Reader Comments

(Page 3 of 4) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. Kathy-- "for not adhering to another countrys backward, stilted standards.???"

I guess the cavemanlike behavior of grabbing a woman, dipping her backwards and slobbering her with numerous "kisses" against her will is NOT BACKWARD!!! WOW.

Posted at 5:19PM on Apr 16th 2007 by WHAT??

32. Richard gere is a Rapist and he should be arrested for assaulting women.

Posted at 5:19PM on Apr 16th 2007 by Oprah

33. Message for Down with stupid people!:
Just to clarify, New Delhi is in India, not Pakistan. In case you missed that day of geography class, or your school was struck by budget cuts and could not afford to implement that aspect in your education, which is the plight of a vast number of school systems in the Occidental world, resulting in a half-educated society, oft more dangerous than an uneducated society.
Message for studly:
India is not a third world country
Message for stormy:
Where does the Gita, the Upanishads, or any other Vedantic scripture dictate the public affection actions of its believers?
Message for WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GANDER, IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE!!:
You have a very feminist view on the topic, which is fine, but I like that you took the effort to clarify that it is not an issue with the religion per say, but more so how it has been interpreted.
That is all.
Oh how humans make me laugh! Thank you internet.

Posted at 5:44PM on Apr 16th 2007 by Ditster

34. That two-timer!!!

Posted at 5:54PM on Apr 16th 2007 by The Gerbil

35. As a Indian watching that video, i think this is so stupid. People will find anything to protest about even over here in America. That;s just the way of the world. I applaud Richard Gere for the work he's been doing in Asia for AIDS/HIV awareness as well as Shetty. This whole thing should be between Gere and Shetty to iron out and no one else. Move onto the other world affairs......

Posted at 7:15PM on Apr 16th 2007 by Isn't there anything else to talk about??

36. Oh yea, here we go again. Another ethenic group bitching about being insulted in public, on media airways. Well, relax Gere, I'm sure IMUS has a spare room you can rent after you're fire in HOLLYWOOD.

Posted at 8:01PM on Apr 16th 2007 by Jackie

37. MAYBE HE HAS BEEN HANGING AROUND WITH SHARON STONE TOO MUCH. SHE ALWAYS MAKES A FOOL OF HERSELF.

Posted at 8:13PM on Apr 16th 2007 by ANNE

38. It's good that you feel so strongly about the human rights and the rights of women but your argument would be stronger if you weren't racist in your opinions. I read all your posts, and you mix up facts about religions, countries, and ethnicities. Obviously, by your use of "caps lock," language, and your "Down with stupid people", this is an issue you have a serious opinion about, but it would serve you better in this forum and in general if you were better informed. Your response's racist tones make you seem ignorant. It's just well-meaning advice. You don't win agruments with ignorance...that's what happened those effigy burning people - they become ridiculous instead of being taken seriously.

Posted at 12:27PM on Apr 19th 2007 by a visitor

39. I love how when ONE American makes a mistake oversees...he represents ALL Americans, and those who bash HIS ignorance make sweeping IGNORANT generalization of their own...such as "Gosh, All Americans are so ignorant to other cultures"...this is ONE man and in hindsight...did he really make a mistake?

The TRUE mistake is overlooking a noteworthy cause (which he was kind enough to donate his time and effort) and all that gets overlooked for a very skewed cultural boundary for woman. They can't do this, that the other.

As for Americans having to conform to the customs, cultures and traditions of whatever country we step foot in for whatever time...FINE...I respect and honor that notion...*however*...WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO COME IN OUR COUNTRY?!!?
People come in our country every single day and not only do they NOT conform to our beliefs, traditions, and standards....but they force feed their own down our throat and treat us as if we owe them something. We have completely LOST our identity as a nation thanks to hidding behind the "melting pot" complex, yet as a result...we have no spine.

We'll respect your traditions so long as you respect OURS when you step foot in our country!

Get educated
Learn the language
Be a model citizen
Contribute to society in a positive way
and don't commit crimes...and your welcome to America..otherwise...practice what you preach!

Posted at 4:20AM on Apr 17th 2007 by To you America haters (jealousy is not a pretty color on you)

40. LOL,, Gere got too excited, he was on horny goat weed.

Posted at 5:26AM on Apr 17th 2007 by black shark in bombay

41. I'm sure Gere wouldn't have displayed such affectionate behaviour to a typical 'can't-even-look-at-a-man-who's-not-my-husband-cuz-i'll-be-stoned-to-death' Pakistani woman, but Shetty was on Big Brother in Britain, for god's sake... she's a fellow celebrity, not a porcelain doll... people need to get their priorities straight and start worrying about something that WILL matter in 5 or 10 years time.

Posted at 11:52AM on Apr 17th 2007 by glad to be canadian

42. To you America haters (jealousy is not a pretty color on you)..... Jealous of what???? A country falling apart??? Being the laughing stock of the international community. Get a grip...

Posted at 11:43AM on Apr 17th 2007 by Get a Grip!!!

43. To you American Haters:

What exactly is American culture? Last time I checked, there's a STARK difference between the American culture of the people in the Northeast and California and the American culture of the people who live in the middle of the country. I would take all those things you listed in your comment (e.g. get an education, contribute to society in a positive way, etc.)and advise American citizens to do the exact thing. As if all American citizens fit your criteria for a model citizen-- complete bull. I'm sure if you asked half the people in the midwest questions about U.S. History, they would know close to nothing. Why don't you practice what you preach instead of urging others to?

Posted at 2:24PM on Apr 17th 2007 by Sherryl

44. To you America haters (jealousy is not a pretty color on you),

We will
Get educated,
Learn the language
Be a model citizen
Contribute to society in a positive way
and don't commit crimes

IF you promise to not get us gunned down with your GUN LAWS!!!!!

Sherryl.... SO true!!!!!

Posted at 12:53AM on Apr 18th 2007 by Sunshine

45. Richard looks like a dirty old man...
Wow! Shetty is very well spoken and gracious.

Posted at 10:24AM on Apr 18th 2007 by woad

Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments