Richard Gere apologises for kissing Shilpa Shetty · 2007-04-28 15:45
Actor Richard Gere has apologised for causing offence when he kissed Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, the BBC reported.
The incident prompted public protests and then an arrest warrant for both stars over the “obscene act”.
Gere, 57, said he had misread Indian customs and that he regretted any problems he had caused Shetty.
He asked for the “media circus” to end and hoped it would not detract from the message of preventing Aids.
Gere kissed Shetty, 31, several times on the cheek while sweeping her backwards in a tango-style move.
The court in Jaipur in Rajasthan state called it “an obscene act” after a local lawyer filed a complaint.
Gere said: “What is most important to me is that my intentions as an HIV/Aids advocate be made clear, and that my friends in India understand that it has never been, nor could it ever be, my intention to offend you.”
“I’ve felt terrible that (Shetty) should carry a burden that is no fault of hers.”
A judge had ordered Shetty to appear in his court on 5 May, saying she did nothing to resist the kiss, which he called “highly sexually erotic”.
Gere said Shetty was not to blame for the incident.
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