Richard Gere gave Savannah Guthrie the middle finger on the Today show on Nov. 20 after she censored a clip from his new series that included the exact same act.
Gere is promoting his new spy thriller The Agency, and Today screened clips from the Paramount+/Showtime series. The show cut a scene just before Gere's character made the gesture, and Gere reacted by completing the scene the moment it was cut.
“You just committed an indecent act on a family morning show!” a stunned Guthrie told Gere after holding up a stack of papers to cover Gere's hands.
“It's beeping!” Guthrie told the legendary actor.
Just one day after Cher appeared on NBC's show, the star held up her middle finger and swore without warning.
“You know, Cher was out here doing the F-bomb yesterday, so I don't know what's going on!” Guthrie said, expressing shock over recent events.
Gere explained his position by making other hand movements, none of which were inappropriate at the time.
“You didn't show it, but I did it in the piece!” Gere said.
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 8: Richard Gere attends the 2019 National Board of Review Gala held at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 8, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
“That was the clip!”
Mr. Guthrie reiterated his position.
“That's what the clip was about, but we cut that part out. But they did it live!” she said.
Gere pursued this issue further and was adamant about the importance of gestures in videos.
“It looked, but without it there's no point!” he said.
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 17: Richard Gere attends the “Maybe I Do” special screening sponsored by Fifth Season and Vertical held at Crosby Street Hotel on January 17, 2023 in New York City. Attendance. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Later in the interview, Gere said he had no intention of giving Guthrie the middle finger on TV.
“My hands did it. I didn't do it. I have no control over it!” he said as they laughed. (Related: Kim Kardashian's son flips the paparazzi the bird)
The premiere episode of “The Agency” will air on Paramount+/Showtime on November 29th.
