Angry Indians burned and beat effigies of Richard Gere after he hugged Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and then kissed her on the hand and cheeks numerous times at an HIV/AIDS awareness event. Suffice to say, the public display of affection, largely taboo in the country, has caused outrage.
In Mumbai, members of the right-wing Hindu nationalist group Shiv Sena beat burning effigies of Gere with sticks and set fire to glamorous shots of Shetty.
Similar protests broke out in other cities, including Varanasi, Hinduism’s holiest city, and in the northern town of Meerut, where crowds chanted “Down with Shilpa Shetty!”
Effigy burning isn’t too common in America, even though it sounds pretty cool. They should do one for all the socialites here. They can make the effigy 5 ft tall and set fire to it on their doorstep. Everyone will get the hint except Paris Hilton. She’ll think it was from her fans and suffer third degree burns hugging it.
The cool part of the story is the event was to highlight the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS among India’s truck drivers. That’s like holding an event for dog attacks against paraplegic mailmen. Ok, not quite the same, but if the truck drivers were in wheelchairs it would be.
By the way, these photos aren’t from the event.
I’ve seen the video, and I really have no idea what the fuss is all about.
http://www.damnimcute.com/the-juicy/richard-gere/richard-gere-is-a-wanted-man-in-india/
You have to understand cross-cultural issues to understand what the “fuss” is about. India is not America by any means. It’s a country full of old traditions. PDA is taboo there – you just don’t do it. What disturbs me greatly is that Hollywood celebrities all try to get involved as “international ambassadors” and make fools of themselves. Look at Angelina Jolie and her U.N. folies. It’s a joke. If Richard Gere tries to act intelligent and wants to pretend he’s educated in foreign affairs and social issues globally, then read up on them before embarassing himself internationally. But I… Read more »
I dont know whats the big deal..
I stay in India too and there should be a cultural change here..
You cant stay with the same culture man..You are in the 21st century..If you have to lead the world you have to change…
For a society that has been deeply damaged by colonialism can one think of a more offensive image of a white guy grabbing a daughter of India and forcing himself upon her? It is so symbolic. It is right in line with the image of the white colonist forcing himself upon a country and just taking whatever he wants. Richard Gere should pay the ultimate price for this. What bothers me however is those who would blame Shilpa Shetty for this. Too often women victims of rape in India are blamed for what happened like they wanted the rape to… Read more »
Most of the people in America I talk to hates Richard Gere too so India need not feel alone in hating Gere.
WOW!
Richard Gere kissed a woman in public and there’s an arrest warrant out for him?
India has the 3rd largest military in the world and growing at an unprecedented scale with no external threat.
Logic: In India you can kill people but you can’t hug them.
Culture or Ignorance?