Richard Gere achieved fame and critical acclaim for his performance in the 1982 romantic drama, An Officer and a Gentleman. His portrayal of a charming and troubled young man in Pretty Woman, opposite Julia Roberts, further solidified his status as a leading man. The actor has appeared in many films, including Chicago, for which he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. His other notable films include Primal Fear, Runaway Bride, The Hoax, and Arbitrage.
However, asides from his acting career, Gere is known for his activism and humanitarian efforts. He has been involved in various causes, including advocating for human rights in Tibet and supporting HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programs. The actor has also used his celebrity status to raise awareness about social and political issues.
Richard Gere says his experience with the refugees was traumatizing
Gere is scheduled to provide testimony in an Italian court case against far-right leader Matteo Salvini who is facing charges for his alleged involvement in obstructing the landing of 147 individuals aboard the NGO rescue vessel Open Arms in Italy.
RELATED: Richard Gere Hospitalized With Pneumonia While On Family Vacation
During an interview with The Guardian, the 73-year-old candidly discussed his forthcoming testimony and shared his firsthand experience aboard the Open Arms in 2019. The actor recounted the conditions endured by the refugees on the vessel. “We saw more than a hundred people on board, I felt ashamed that we have so much and are not able to embrace these fellow human beings, our brothers and sisters who were starving, traumatized,” Gere admitted. “If they were told the boat was going back to Libya, they would jump in the water and drown themselves, and I felt it was our responsibility to bring as much light as we could.”
Richard Gere says Italian authorities prevented people from helping the refugees on the ship
Gere also disclosed that he got involved in the course of the refugees during a visit to one of his friends in Italy. “I was visiting a friend that summer who asked me if I was aware of this new law in Italy, so I asked him to explain it to me. He said, ‘It’s going to be a criminal offence to help people in distress,'” the actor confessed. “‘You’ve gotta be kidding me! This is not possible!’ I mean, in deeply Christian Italy, how could this happen? It’s criminal to help people in need? It was mind-boggling to me.”
The actor detailed that he actively participated in delivering food supplies to the individuals aboard the ship even though his efforts were met with resistance as Italian authorities prevented any boats from approaching the vessel at sea. “There was this man. He was told by the police that they’d destroy his business and that he’d end up in jail if he helped us,” Gere continued. “We had the food, but we didn’t have the boat to get the food out to these people.”
He says his testimony at Matteo Salvini’s trial will be based on the “truth”
Gere shared that he decided to volunteer and help the refugees for the sake of humanity. “First of all, I don’t know these people. I’ve never met them, but I highly doubt they’ve taken the time to go on a boat and have a human experience and understand the real people they have their influence over,” he said. “If they did that, then I think there’s probably another conversation to have. You see, I don’t see myself as a movie star. I’m one of 7 billion human beings on the planet, that’s it, no more. I’m no better or worse than anyone.”
“It’s very simple, I’ll just tell the truth, I’ll just tell what I experienced. I’m only here to speak for people who don’t have a voice,” Gere concluded. “It’s not about me. I’m completely irrelevant here. I’m honest with you. I can be invisible. All I am is a witness.”