For decades, the story surrounding Richard Gere’s mysterious absence from the Academy Awards floated somewhere between rumor, controversy, and Hollywood legend. Now, the 76-year-old actor is finally speaking more openly about what happened — and why he still stands by the words that cost him nearly two decades on the industry’s most celebrated stage.
Gere, best known for classics like Pretty Woman and An Officer and a Gentleman, said in a newly published interview that his long-running ban from the Oscars was something he never took “particularly personally,” despite its severity. The punishment lasted twenty years — double the length of Will Smith’s 10-year ban following the widely publicized incident in 2022 when Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on the Oscars stage.
Yet in Gere’s case, no physical altercation, onstage chaos, or viral moment triggered his exile. Instead, it was a politically charged message — delivered calmly, deliberately, and without theatrics — that changed the course of his relationship with the Academy.
The Speech That Sparked It All
The year was 1993. The setting was the 65th Academy Awards. Gere had been invited to present an award, and like many presenters, he was expected to read a brief teleprompter script, deliver the trophy, and step aside. Instead, Gere went off-script and used his moment to speak about a humanitarian crisis unfolding thousands of miles away.
At the time, tensions between China and Tibet were a central focus of Gere’s activism. A practicing Buddhist, he had spent years raising awareness about human rights concerns in the region. Tibet had been under Chinese control since the 1950s, and the Dalai Lama — Tibet’s spiritual leader — remained in exile after fleeing the region in 1959.
Just two years after Gere’s speech, Amnesty International published a report alleging the torture of Tibetan children accused of political offenses, as well as the imprisonment of monks and nuns engaged in peaceful protest. For Gere, the Oscars stage was more than a platform — it was an opportunity.
In his speech, he addressed then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping directly, suggesting that the leader could be watching the ceremony “with his children and his grandchildren.” Gere urged the world to acknowledge what he described as the “horrendous human rights situation” in Tibet and China. He asked the audience to “send love and truth and kind of sanity to Deng Xiaoping right now in Beijing,” and called on China to “allow these people to live as free, independent human beings again.”
The room erupted in applause. Many admired the courage it took to use such a visible global stage to highlight a cause. But applause would not change the consequences.
Hollywood’s Unspoken Rule — Broken
Behind the scenes, however, Gere’s remarks struck a nerve. The Academy at the time maintained a firm unwritten rule: no political statements during the broadcast. Gere’s comments, though peaceful and measured, placed the Academy in uncomfortable territory, particularly as Hollywood sought to expand its global box-office presence — including in China.
Within days, Gere found himself quietly blacklisted. He was not asked back as a presenter. He was not invited to attend future Oscars ceremonies. Studio executives reportedly informed him that the Academy considered his speech a violation so significant that he would not be welcomed again for the foreseeable future.
That “foreseeable future” turned into twenty years.
A Twenty-Year Absence
For two decades, Gere remained absent from the Oscars — even as his films continued to earn critical acclaim. Unlike other Hollywood controversies, there was no public scandal, no courtroom drama, and no viral moment caught on camera. The ban wasn’t officially announced. It wasn’t written in a public statement. It simply existed — quietly, firmly, and for far longer than anyone expected.
It wasn’t until 2013 that the Academy invited Gere back, effectively ending the silent embargo. He appeared on stage again without incident, delivering awards and participating in the show just as he had before 1993.
But the memory of the ban — and the reason behind it — never faded.
Gere Finally Speaks: “I Didn’t Take It Personally”
Now, in a rare new interview published December 3, Gere reflected on the scandal that shaped his relationship with Hollywood’s biggest night.
“I didn’t take it particularly personally,” he told Variety. Despite years of industry whispers about political retaliation or institutional anger, Gere insisted the situation wasn’t something he held resentment over.
“I didn’t think there were any bad guys in the situation,” he added.
His comments suggest a man at peace — not just with the past, but with the choice he made. Gere has never backed away from his activism, and during the interview, he made clear that he still believes using his platform for awareness was the right thing to do.
A Tale of Two Bans: Gere vs. Will Smith
The comparison between Gere’s 20-year ban and Will Smith’s 10-year ban is hard to ignore.
Smith’s incident happened live onstage at the 2022 Oscars, when he slapped comedian Chris Rock after a joke referencing Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. The moment stunned the audience and instantly became one of the most replayed clips in Oscars history. Smith was banned from attending the Oscars for a decade.
Gere’s ban, by contrast, stemmed from peaceful criticism, calmly delivered, without confrontation or violence. And yet, his punishment lasted twice as long.
The contrast reveals how much the Academy’s priorities differ depending on era, context, and pressure. In the early 1990s, speaking critically of a powerful foreign government — especially one tied economically to the film industry — was seen as far more problematic than a spontaneous act of anger during a live broadcast.
Why Gere Has No Regrets
Gere has long advocated for Tibet, human rights, and global humanitarian causes. His work includes founding the Gere Foundation and partnering with organizations to support refugees and victims of political oppression.
To Gere, the speech wasn’t a career decision — it was a moral one.
Even though the ban lasted twenty years, Gere maintained that he never regretted speaking out. His comments now reaffirm that perspective. Where some might have harbored bitterness, Gere opted for reflection and understanding.
“It was a complicated moment,” he suggested. “But everyone was doing what they felt they had to do.”
A Legacy Bigger Than the Ban
Today, Gere’s legacy is far bigger than the controversy that removed him from Hollywood’s biggest stage for two decades. He remains a beloved actor, an activist, and a cultural figure who has consistently followed his conscience, even when it came at a price.
His rare decision to address the issue publicly now offers closure to a chapter many in Hollywood still remember but rarely discuss. And as Gere’s comments circulate, they serve as a reminder of how quickly moments can shape careers — and how integrity can outlast punishment.
Nearly thirty years after the speech that shocked the Academy, Gere remains clear-eyed about the choice he made. And while Hollywood has changed, global politics have shifted, and the Oscars themselves have evolved, one thing about the 1993 moment remains unchanged:
Richard Gere said what he believed needed to be said — and he has never apologized for it.