Why Richard Gere Flipped Off Today's Savannah Guthrie on Live TV
Richard Gere shocked Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie by flipping the bird on live TV Nov. 20 and her reaction was priceless.
By Brett M Malec Nov 20, 2024 4:54 PMTags
Savannah Guthrie Tests Positive for COVID Mid-Show
It's been one wild week on Today.
One day after Cher dropped the F-bomb during an interview with Hoda Kotb, Richard Gere flipped the bird during the NBC morning show's Nov. 20 broadcast.
The rude gesture shocked co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, who gasped and immediately smacked down the Pretty Woman star's right hand with her stack of interview notes.
As for why Gere stuck up his middle finger in the middle of the live TV interview? Don't worry, he wasn't intentionally disrespecting the Today staff and viewers.
Because he was there to promote his new Showtime thriller The Agency, they of course showed a clip featuring his character in the TV series. Afterwards, the 75-year-old explained what his character did next in the scene.
"You didn't show but that's what I did in the piece," Gere noted while holding up his middle finger. "That's what the clip was."
A shocked Guthrie replied, "You just did an obscene gesture on this family morning show. I'm bleeping you!"
Guthrie acknowledged they had to cut the gesture from the clip for obvious reasons before quipping, "But then you did it live!"
However, Gere explained, "I could see that but it didn't make any sense without that. My hand did that, I have no control."
NBC
This is the second hilarious celebrity snafu to hit Today this week.
As Guthrie joked, "You know, Cher was on here doing an F-bomb yesterday so I don't know what's happening!"
NBC
See Guthrie's priceless reaction above.
Today airs weekday mornings on NBC and The Agency premieres Nov. 29 on Showtime and Paramount+.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family)
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