In the early ’90s, Richard Gere was allegedly banned from the Oscar ceremonies due to his outspoken views about politics and religion, including his advocacy for Tibetan independence and Tibetan Buddhism, which were viewed as controversial at that time. For years, Gere has also been a supporter of human rights in Tibet and has publicly decried China’s practices towards the region.
His position as an activist, particularly for Tibet, reportedly made him a controversial figure in certain Hollywood circles and within the Academy. There is no official indication that there was a formal ban on Gere from attending the Oscars, but the media and other sources contend that his activism affected his ability to attend several of Hollywood’s most important award ceremonies, including the Oscars.
Why Was Richard Gere Banned From The Oscars?
In 1993, during the Oscar ceremony, An actor from ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ was presenting, he made unscripted comments to criticise China’s “Horrendous, horrendous human rights issue” in Tibet it led to ban. Gere was meant to be on stage to announce the nominees for Best Art Direction. That year, the award was awarded to “Howard’s End”.
However, rather than following the teleprompter, Gere deviated from his prepared remarks to express, “I had a thought about something, actually, before I came out. I want to share it with you. It’s going to be short. I was really struck by the idea that there were one billion people watching this thing. Astonishingly, one billion people are watching. And I was curious about what countries this was actually going to. And it is in fact being seen in China right now.”
After that speech, the actor from “Primal Fear” did not make a return to present at the Academy Awards until 20 years later, in 2013. However, he did participate in the ceremony in 2003 when his film “Chicago” was nominated for the “Best Picture” award.
Richard Gere Eras
1970s to 1980s – Initial Research on Buddhism
- Richard Gere was converted to Buddhism in the last half of 1977 and in early 1981 established himself as a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism.
- The Dalai Lama at the time was instrumental in influencing Richard Gere’s views on the Tibetan people and their culture, as well as their rights as human beings.
- Richard Gere’s religious beliefs had an impact on his public perception of himself, how he perceived himself, and the types of roles that he chose to play in motion pictures as well as public events.
Late 80s – Support for Tibet
- In the late 1980s, Richard Gere recognised that he could use his celebrity status as a method to promote human rights in Tibet.
- His vocal opposition to the Chinese occupation of Tibet generated national and international attention on behalf of human rights violations in Tibet, making him one of the most recognised figures in the West for supporting the Tibetan independence movement.
- In the late 1990s, Hollywood became apprehensive toward publicly criticising China as the emerging global market for motion pictures; therefore, Richard Gere’s activism represented a controversial position for an industry that relied heavily on China as a venue for film promotion.
1990 – Being Banned from the Academy Awards
- In 1990, Richard Gere presented an Oscar; however, reports say that he had been discouraged from presenting subsequent Oscars due to his outspoken political views.
- There are claims by some in Hollywood and the Academy that Richard Gere’s advocacy for the Tibetan independence movement was “too politically sensitive” with regard to China’s relationship with the United States.
- This is frequently cited as the basis for his being “banned”, although no official statement exists from the Academy on any official ban.
1990s – Ongoing Political Activism
- Richard Gere was an outspoken advocate for human rights, including opposition to apartheid, as well as human rights abuses committed by authoritarian governments.
- While many of his films had no political undertones, he was able to promote the awareness of Tibet through his film promotions and public appearances. At times, his efforts clashed with the aim of most Hollywood studios to remain politically neutral.
2000s – International Recognition
- Richard Gere’s activism was well known across the world, and he received several awards in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.
- Hollywood continued to allow him to be cast in film roles, but his activism often caused him to be at odds with the more conservative elements of the film industry.
Why Was Richard Gere Banned From The Oscars?-FACT CHECK
Richard Gere had not been officially barred from attending the Academy Awards until 1993, when he made an explosive speech about the human rights violations committed by China against Tibetans at the Academy Awards ceremony. After making this statement, a very large number of years were spent as a pariah in the Academy community.
FAQ’s On Why Was Richard Gere Banned From The Oscars?
- Has Richard Gere been officially banned from attending the Oscars?
- Richard Gere has not been specifically banned by the Academy. The Academy had an informal distancing from him because of his outspoken political position taken at the 1993 Oscars.
- Why did Richard Gere’s comments make him so controversial?
- At the 1993 Academy Awards, Richard Gere spoke against how Tibetans are treated in China. He appealed for peace with the Tibetan people.
- Did the Academy officially take any action against Richard Gere?
- The Academy did not take an official action against him, but he did not receive an invitation to present awards for more than a decade, and speculation arose that he had been banned.
- Has Richard Gere ever returned to the Academy Awards since being exiled?
- Yes, Richard Gere returned to the Academy Awards after many years and proved that he was never officially banned by the Academy.
