Richard Gere was effectively banned from appearing at the Oscars for about 20 years because he used the ceremony to criticize the Chinese government’s policies in Tibet during a live presentation in 1993.

What happened in 1993

While presenting an award at the 1993 Academy Awards, Gere went off script and denounced China’s human rights record in Tibet, calling out its treatment of Tibetans and supporting Tibetan independence. The Academy, which prefers to keep the telecast non-political, reacted by deciding he would no longer be invited to present or attend, leading to a long informal ban.

Length of the ban

Reports and Gere’s own later comments indicate that this ban lasted roughly two decades, from 1993 until he returned to the Oscars in 2013. By 2013 he was again allowed to present on the show, signaling that the Academy had effectively lifted the restriction.

Gere’s own view of it

In recent interviews, Gere has confirmed the existence of the ban but said he did not take it personally or see specific “villains” behind it. He has continued to be outspoken on Tibet and human rights, noting that the stance hurt some career opportunities—especially related to projects that wanted access to the Chinese market—but that he stands by his activism.