Richard Gere does ‘obscene gesture’ on live TV: Buzz

North Syracuse high school alumnus Richard Gere flipped off “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie on live TV today.
Gere appeared on the NBC morning show Wednesday to promote his new Showtime thriller, ”The Agency,” and appeared to object to a clip leaving out a key moment. So Gere pointed his middle finger at Guthrie.
“You didn’t show (it) but that’s what I did in the piece,” Gere said. “That’s what the clip was.”
“You just did an obscene gesture on this family morning show. I’m bleeping you!” Guthrie responded.
The gesture was blurred out in later video clips and broadcasts, but his middle finger could be seen clearly and uncensored in the original broadcast.
Gere said he was “sorry,” but insisted that it was important to illustrate the scene.
“I could see that but it didn’t make any sense without that. My hand did that, I have no control,” Gere said.
The incident comes a day after Cher said the “F” word on the “Today” show while promoting her new autobiography, “Cher, The Memoir: Part One.” Cher was discussing relationship advice she got from “I Love Lucy” star Lucille Ball and Hoda Kotb assured her that she could speak explicitly, promising producers would “bleep it.” But Kotb’s team didn’t have a 7-second delay prepared for the live broadcast, shocking the NBC hosts and their audience.
“You know, Cher was on here doing an F-bomb yesterday so I don’t know what’s happening!” Guthrie told Gere.
Gere, 75, was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Central New York, graduating from North Syracuse High School in 1967. The Emmy-nominated actor, known for roles in “Pretty Woman,” “Chicago,” “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “American Gigolo,” next stars in “The Agency,” premiering Nov. 29 on Showtime and Paramount+.
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