What You Need to Know About Richard Gere’s Oscars Ban and His Recent Thoughts on the Controversy

Richard Gere in October 2025; Richard Gere at 1993 Oscars.
Credit :

Annette Riedl/picture alliance via Getty; Oscars/Youtube

NEED TO KNOW

• Richard Gere was banned from the Oscars for nearly 20 years after making unscripted remarks during the 1993 ceremony.
• He returned to present at the 2013 Academy Awards.
• In a December 2025 interview with *Variety*, Gere discussed the impact of his comments during the Oscars and their aftermath.

For almost two decades, Richard Gere was notably absent from one of Hollywood’s most prestigious events.

The *Pretty Woman* actor was banned from the Academy Awards following his unscripted comments during the 1993 ceremony, and he has now addressed this long absence over 30 years later.

At the 65th Academy Awards, Gere presented the award for Best Art Direction. During his address, he made comments regarding China, highlighting the “horrendous human rights situation” in Tibet.

In a video clip shared on the official Oscars YouTube channel, his remarks were met with applause from the audience. However, the Academy subsequently sidelined Gere from presenting duties for several years.

This report outlines the reasons behind Richard Gere’s ban from the Oscars and his reflections on the incident’s lasting effects.

Why was Richard Gere banned from the Oscars?

Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere at the 1993 Academy Awards.

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Gere’s ban stemmed from unscripted comments made while presenting an award on March 29, 1993. Before announcing the nominees for Best Art Direction, Gere remarked on how 1 billion viewers were watching, expressing curiosity about whether the broadcast was visible in China.

He pondered whether Deng Xiaoping was watching with his family, reflecting on the dire human rights situation in China and Tibet. Gere emphasized the need for compassion and change in the region, calling for the withdrawal of Chinese troops from Tibet.

Although his statements garnered applause from the audience, they also drew criticism from Bob Rehme, then-president of the Academy, who stated that the awards were meant to focus on films and entertainment, and not political issues.

Gil Cates, the show’s producer at the time, was quoted expressing indifference towards Gere’s comments, questioning their relevance to the event.

How long was Richard Gere banned from the Oscars?

Richard Gere at 2013 Academy Awards.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Gere did not return to the Oscars until February 24, 2013—almost 20 years after his controversial remarks.

During this period, he starred in *Chicago*, which won multiple Oscars, including Best Picture.

At the 85th Academy Awards, Gere reappeared on stage alongside his *Chicago* co-stars to present awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song.

Reflecting on his return, Gere remarked, “Apparently, I’ve been rehabilitated. It seems if you stay around long enough, they forget they’ve banned you,” he noted in an interview.

What has Richard Gere said about being banned from the Oscars?

Richard Gere at the 1993 Academy Awards.

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

In a December 2025 interview with *Variety*, Gere addressed the lengthy ban, expressing that he “didn’t take it particularly personally.” He emphasized that he viewed “no bad guys” in the situation and intended no harm, only advocating for compassion and human rights.

Referencing his long friendship with the Dalai Lama, Gere stated, “everyone is redeemable, and in the end, everyone has to be redeemed or none of us are.” This perspective shaped his understanding of the fallout from his comments.

How long has Richard Gere been friends with the Dalai Lama?

Richard Gere and the Dalai Lama in 1987 ; Richard Gere and the Dalai Lama in 2025.

BILL SWERSEY/AFP via Getty; NIHARIKA KULKARNI/AFP via Getty

Gere has been friends with the Dalai Lama for over 45 years and has practiced Buddhism since 1978. He recently served as the executive producer for *Wisdom of Happiness*, a documentary about the Dalai Lama.

Interestingly, Gere revealed that the Oscars incident “never came up” in their conversations. “They’ll tell him once in a while if I get an award or something and he sends a note, congratulating me, that he’s happy for me,” he said.

Has Richard Gere ever been nominated for an Oscar?

Richard Gere at 2013 Academy Awards.

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Throughout his career, Gere has appeared in several Oscar-winning films, such as *Days of Heaven* and *Chicago*. However, he has never received a nomination for an Academy Award himself.