Richard Gere is not currently banned from the Academy Awards, but he was effectively banned or unofficially blacklisted for about 20 years due to a political statement he made on stage at the 1993 Oscars. While presenting the Best Art Direction award, Gere deviated from the script and spoke out against China's occupation of Tibet and called for an end to human rights abuses, saying he was sending love and support to Tibet and urging people to send truth and honesty to China. The Academy reportedly disapproved of using the show for political statements, and Gere was not invited back as a presenter for many years. He himself has said in interviews that he was banned for two decades. The ban is often confused with the fact that the Oscars producers try to avoid political speeches, but Gere's case became famous because of his strong support for Tibet and the Dalai Lama, which also led to him being permanently banned from entering China. In recent years, Gere has returned to Academy events and was present at Oscar-related events again, so the ban is no longer active, but the story remains a well-known example of Hollywood politics.
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