In an unexpected turn of events on NBC's "Today" show, veteran actor Richard Gere made a controversial gesture to host Savannah Guthrie during a live interview. The incident quickly escalated into a notable moment for the morning program.
While discussing a scene from his new series The Agency, Richard Gere made a shocking gesture, prompting an immediate scolding from the host for its inappropriate nature on a family-friendly show, Mail Online reported.
The sequence of events unfolded as Savannah Guthrie introduced the actor, followed by a brief clip from The Agency. As the interview progressed, Gere tried to explain a part of his show by recreating an action from a scene that had been omitted from the broadcast segment. This attempt resulted in the actor making an obscene gesture, much to the surprise of Guthrie and the live audience.
Caught off guard, Guthrie swiftly attempted to block the gesture from the viewers using her script while reprimanding Gere. She pointed out the family-oriented nature of the morning show and expressed her dismay by saying, "You just made an obscene gesture on this family morning show." Her reaction highlighted the delicate balance morning shows maintain to appeal to a broad audience, including children.
Gere defended himself by explaining that the gesture was a faithful reenactment of the censored scene, intended to give context to the clip shown. He stressed, "Sorry, but that's what I did in the piece." Despite his justification, the moment marked an awkward pause in the interview, reflecting the tensions of live television.
This incident followed another controversy involving singer Cher, who had used profane language on the same show just a day earlier.
Guthrie referenced this event, perhaps to underline a growing trend of unexpected mishaps that had befallen the morning show, commenting, "You know Cher was on here doing an F-bomb yesterday, so I don't know what's happening."
Richard Gere's predilection for not watching his performances also came up during the conversation. He shared that this was the first time he had seen the clip from his show as he admitted, "I haven't seen anything, no. This is the first that I've seen it." It was revealed when Guthrie asked him about attending the premiere, highlighting his unusual approach to viewing his work, noting, "I don’t like looking in the mirror, to tell you the truth. I don’t like seeing myself very much."
"The Agency" will premiere on November 29 on Paramount Plus and features a dynamic plot set within a government department of deep-cover agents. Moreover, the series, starring Michael Fassbender and Jodie Turner-Smith, was produced by notable filmmakers George Clooney and Grant Heslov. Gere lauded the production, remarking on its movie-like shooting style, saying, "It's terrific. We shot it like a movie."
The recent episodes on the "Today" show, including Gere's controversial reenactment, highlight the unpredictable nature of live television broadcasting. Although Gere aimed to provide viewers with the genuine essence of his character's actions within the new show, the execution fell short of the morning broadcast's standards. As networks continue to navigate the blending of promotional activities with daytime TV decorum, viewers are left wondering what might happen next in these candid celebrity interviews.
