Richard Gere, 75, Scolded by ‘Today’ Host Savannah Guthrie, 52, for ‘Obscene Gesture’ on Air—Video

The “Primal Fear” actor’s promotional stop for his new project took an unexpected turn, sparking widespread reactions after an unforeseen live TV moment.

On November 20, 2024, Richard Gere’s live appearance on the “Today” show left host Savannah Guthrie momentarily flustered after an unexpected and controversial gesture. The incident occurred during a discussion about Gere’s upcoming thriller, “The Agency.” The 75-year-old actor surprised viewers and Guthrie by raising his middle finger on air, leading to an immediate and pointed reaction from the host.

“What did you just do?” Guthrie exclaimed, scrambling to shield the gesture behind a stack of papers. “You just did an obscene gesture on this family morning show!” the 52-year-old anchor scolded the A-lister.

Gere appeared to quickly realize his mistake, lowering his hand while offering a light-hearted explanation and apology. He attempted to smooth over the awkward moment with humor, saying, “My hand did that, I didn’t do it! I have no control!”

The “Runaway Bride” actor clarified that the gesture referenced a moment in a clip from “The Agency” shown earlier during the broadcast. The snippet, however, had been edited to exclude the scene in which Gere’s character makes the same gesture.

“You didn’t show but that’s what I did in the piece. That’s what the clip was!” Gere explained, defending his action. Guthrie quickly responded, “That’s what the clip was but we cut that part out.”

Despite the explanation, Guthrie continued to playfully block Gere’s hand, saying, “I’m bleeping you!” as she attempted to move past the awkward exchange. The moment drew immediate reactions online, sparking a wave of comments from fans on social media.