Richard Gere has not been “canceled” from the annual Academy Awards ceremony, multiple sources tell Page Six.
Richard has never been banned from the Academy Awards ceremony, a source close to Gere said. “In fact, he has been invited to present awards frequently over the years, but has often been busy with work or unable to attend.”
Last week, Variety published an interview with Gere in which he was asked about his alleged 20-year ban from the evening and his ban from hosting the ceremony.
I don’t take it personally,” he said. “I didn’t think there were any ill-wishers involved in this situation. I do what I do, and, of course, I don’t wish harm on anyone.”
The star of the film “Pretty Woman” is remembered for deviating from the script during the 1993 Oscars. Gere condemned China’s policy in Tibet in front of millions of viewers and a star-studded audience. Although the star’s speech was met with applause during the ceremony, Oscar producer Gil Cates later criticized Gere’s speech, calling it arrogant, and stated that he would no longer invite the actor, as the Los Angeles Times reported at the time. Cates died in 2011.
