Richard Gere And Shilpa Shetty In The News At AIDS Awareness Event
By Kate | Permalink |
2 comments | April 28th, 2007 | Trackback
Richard Gere and Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty are now facing warrants for their arrest after Gere theatrically kissed Shetty – on the cheek but in a dramatic pose – during an AIDS awareness event in Delhi, India.
The situation made me wonder if Gere did this for the publicity, and either way, more generally, are publicity stunts an acceptable method of raising awareness for a charitable cause?
Both Gere and Shetty say the kiss was not planned, and it’s hard to get to a person’s head or figure out their motivation much beyond what they say. I suppose whether I see something that is in fact a publicity stunt as acceptable or not depends on the motivation for it, and I think it’s only fair to give serious thought to possible consequences. While he may not have predicted an arrest warrant, it would surprise me that someone who has spent as much time in India as Gere was not aware that his actions would upset people. That said, my understanding from a few different articles is that the event was directed at raising AIDS awareness among truck drivers who may be exposed to it when they frequent prostitutes. Does the context make it more or less acceptable? Had public mores already been stretched by allowing an event like this? I just don’t know.
More than one article mentions that the press attention in India has more about the kiss than about AIDS awareness or the event, so it’s hard to judge whether, even if it was a publicity stunt, it was successful. If it had raised awareness about AIDS, or brought attention to the event – would that change whether or not it was an acceptable move?
Are the current arrest warrants an appropriate application of an existing Indian law? Is the law a good one? I don’t know that it’s my place to judge on either count, even if I had the practical knowledge to do so. I doubt Gere anticipated the full impact of how this would be received and perhaps just made a poor judgment, and I’m torn between feeling he should have had some sense that his actions would offend people and feeling empathy that someone who seems to uses his celebrity to benefit charitable causes is taking extra heat for a poor choice because of that celebrity.
Comments
Thanks for adding this insight - it’s great to get another perspective.
I spent five months in India and realize it’s a gigantic country and very diverse. Still, it surprises me that Richard Gere didn’t realize that this would in fact upset people - though I don’t mean to say I think it upset all Indians or anything. As an American who has spent four out of the last five years abroad, I’m especially aware when I notice other Americans, or travelers generally, showing - in my mind - disregard for some traditional beliefs/values/etc., even if those beliefs are more strictly held by a few than by the many.
I am actually curious to hear back from you on this: can you generalize about how this story is being reported in India? I’m in Europe and so can’t comment on TV news in the US; I haven’t followed the story widely online, but in general I think you’re right about how it is reported (”the kiss that shocked India” etc.), though I don’t know if what I’ve seen attempts to imply that most Indians are offended. (It’s also possible that I’m a bit out of touch.)
Oh, and I have not seen the Swimsuit Calendar, so I’ll have to take your word for it 
.
Thank you for commenting…
Post your comment
If you have not commented here before, please take a moment to peruse ourCommenting Guidelines.
Travel Resources
- RTW Ticket Quote
- Cheap Hotels
- Cheap International Flights
- Medical Evacuation Insurance
- Student Travel Forum
- Waterproof cameras
Volunteer Travel Guide
Monthly Archives
BootsnAll Logues
TRAVEL THEMES
DESTINATIONS
SPORTS
We Indians still like Mr Gere. In fact no more than a few dozen people at a time took to the streets burning Mr Gere’s effigies and in only four different towns. I am sure you know that India is a country of about a billion people with hundreds of such towns.
The judge who issued this warrant works out of a court in small town India and not out of ‘ New Delhi ‘. This is not the first time a Public Interest Litigation ( PIL ) application in India has been abused. In a similarly ridiculous attempt, a lawyer had sued a famous cricketer for eating beef! I can assure you no one in India has or will ever go to jail for either eating beef or for kissing someone. This is what Soli Sorabjee, former Attorney General of India had to say about Gere’s warrant - “The order is ridiculous. Even if this hugging and kissing was a bit vulgar, it does not amount to obscenity.”
“They are just seeking publicity,” he said.
Another senior lawyer called the order “an act of judicial indecency.”
“This is only for cheap publicity and the magistrate and lawyer should be restrained,” Dushyant Dave told the Times of India newspaper.
The legal community has in fact slammed this warrant.
I am saddened that the American media is sensationalizing this incident by using headlines screaming - ” The Kiss that Shocked India ” or ” Protests Rock India “. Why should the great majority of Indians be made to look retrograde for the actions of a few rascals?
By the way have you checked out the Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar from last year? It’s India’s answer to the famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition; only the Indian models are less modestly clothed!
Regards