607 north: Indians Burn Effigies of Richard Gere

Monday, April 16, 2007

Indians Burn Effigies of Richard Gere

C Goodman

Richard Gere might want to steer clear of India for a little while. Angry crowds in cities across the country have taken to the streets and many are burning effigies of the once-popular American actor.It all started after newspapers splashed images of Gere across their front pages embracing Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty. The pictures show Gere holding Shetty in his arms and kissing her several times during an AIDS awareness event. India is a country where such public displays of affection are largely taboo.

In Mumbai, members of the right-wing Hindu nationalist group Shiv Sena beat burning effigies of Gere with sticks and set fire to glamourous shots of Shetty. Similar protests have broken out in other cities. Shetty has since tried to reduce the firestorm. "I understand this is his culture, not ours. But this was not such a big thing or so obscene for people to overreact in such manner," she told the Press Trust of India news agency. "I understand people's sentiments, but I don't want a foreigner to take bad memories from here."

0 comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Lohan Drops Out Of Movie

Trump's Underwear Caper

Paris, Nicole Give Campers Enemas

Paris, Nicole Give Campers Enemas

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie sat down together with members of the media to promote the latest season of their reality series "The Simple Life." After famously feuding and filming their parts separately last season, the celebutantes reunite as camp counselors for the show's fifth installment, which premieres May 28 on E! Their task? Leading campers through fitness sessions, couples counseling, drama lessons and beauty-pageant preparations — and surviving without cell phones. While the girls didn't want to talk about their checkered driving records or Richie's recent dizzy spells, they were more than willing to share about performing a certain rectal procedure. "We gave the campers enemas," Richie told an interviewer. "We did it outside, so that was a lot of fun. It probably wasn't that fun for (the campers), but it was definitely interesting. It was something that I never thought I would do before."

"Blades" Slices Up "Grindhouse"

"Blades" Slices Up "Grindhouse"

The Quentin Tarantino three-hour double-feature "Grindhouse" was no match for the Will Ferrell comedy "Blades of Glory" at the box office this weekend. For the second week in a row, the figure-skating flick glided to box office gold, raking in an estimated $23-million. The heavily-hyped "Grindhouse" pic featuring Rose McGowan and Rosario Dawson came in fourth, falling short of expectations with just $11.6-million in ticket sales. "Meet the Robinsons" and Ice Cube's "Are We Done Yet?" came in at 2 and 3.

New Shows Die An Early Death

New Shows Die An Early Death

It seems network executives don't want to give new dramas a chance anymore. Several new shows have already been cut by the networks, after just a few airings. Say good-bye to FOX's "Wedding Bells" and "The Winner," ABC's "Six Degrees," and "The Black Donnellys" (probably the best of the crop), over on NBC. While execs say most of the series are on "hiatus," most observers agree they probably won't be back. It's really disappointing to see NBC pull the plug on "Donnellys" because it was a well-produced show, did relatively well in its time slot for NBC and had a good lead-in with "Deal or No Deal." Instead of giving it a chance, NBC opted to replace it with the cheap and utterly moronic "Thank God You're Here," whatever that is. Good luck NBC with that decision. That's why you're usually Number 3 or 4 in the ratings.

Rose, Rosario Go Nude For Rolling Stone

Rose, Rosario Go Nude For Rolling Stone

Rosario Dawson and Rose McGowan have decided to bare all on the cover of rock magazine Rolling Stone - wearing nothing but bullet belts. The sexy ladies are co-stars in Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's new Grindhouse double-bill, which the magazine has dubbed "the most violent chick flick ever made". Dawson reveals tiny McGowan had to stand on a box to make sure her bottom touched her co-star's. She says, "She actually had to be on an apple box to make sure that our butts touched and our shoulders touched."

102-Year-Old Woman Gets Hole In One

102-Year-Old Woman Gets Hole In One

For Elsie McLean, her years on the golf course finally paid off. At 102, she recently set a new world record when she became the oldest woman, or man, to hit a hole in one. Following the achievement, Elsie remarked, "I said, 'Oh my Lord. It can't be true. It can't be true.' I was so excited. And the girls were absolutely overcome. And so was I." Elsie has been golfing since her 20s and has even been featured in Golfers Digest. She was invited to appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," but declined.

Lily Allen Blasts Bush During Concert

Lily Allen Blasts Bush During Concert

British singer Lily Allen reportedly launched an astonishing drunken rant during a concert in San Diego calling George W Bush an "a**hole" and claiming she is "probably bisexual". The 21-year-old turned angry after guzzling beer and cider onstage during her performance at the city's House of Blues last week. She said, "George Bush is an a**hole and a c**t" before also directing her vitriol at Tony Blair. Allen then claimed she was bisexual because she was sick of men with "tiny d**s", reports British newspaper The Sun. A concert-goer tells the newspaper, "Lily got really drunk on stage. "She then started calling Bush names and the audience went a bit quiet. She also said that San Diego has the best crack whores she has ever seen and that she was thinking of becoming a lesbian."