Richard Gere threatened legal action on talk show host for calling him ‘sex symbol’ on TV

Richard Gere was often referred to as a ‘sex symbol’ in the 80s. But apparently he hated the title so much, he once called in his lawyers.

Caption: Richard Gere in a still from the film American Gigolo. Copyright Paramount Pictures.

Richard Gere was reportedly unhappy after being labelled a “sex symbol” following his performances in 80s movies such as American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman and The Cotton Club.

The Hollywood star made an appearance on British talk Aspel and Company back in 1989 when talk show host Michael Aspel referred to him as such – and Gere did not like it.

According to the veteran TV host, the actor threatened to file a lawsuit against the show unless the phrase “sex symbol” was removed from his introduction.

“When Richard Gere came on the show, I introduced him and at the end I said, and ‘he’s done this, he’s done that,’ and I used the phrase ‘sex symbol,’” Aspel, now 90, recalled this week to the Daily Mail.

“After the interview, we had a phone call from his agent saying if I didn’t remove the sex symbol thing, they were going to take it up with their lawyer.”

Richard Gere starred in American Gigolo in 1980. Picture: Paramount Pictures

The actor has never embraced his sex symbol status.

Aspel said he found the demand jarring but respected Gere’s wishes.

“He would not be known as a sex symbol. It was very odd. But he took himself very seriously because he did a lot of stuff for the people of Tibet,” he added of Gere, who at the time was becoming a prominent advocate for human rights in Tibet, co-founding the Tibet House in 1987.

American Gigolo was Gere’s breakout role. Picture: Paramount Pictures

Gere went on to cement his sex symbol tag in 1990 when he starred in Pretty Woman opposite Julia Roberts — playing a dashing businessman who sweeps Roberts’ character off her feet. However, he never really embraced the title as the years went on, just tolerated it.

“I have to be pleased to hear that — who wouldn’t be?” he told the Sunday Post in 2017.

“I don’t take it seriously, of course. I have never actually wanted to be a celebrity, let alone a sex symbol, but it goes with the acting career if you are successful.

“Films are all about image and box office. When you come into the movie business, be prepared for that. I enjoy acting and movie production, it’s what I do, so I accept what goes with it.”

Starring in Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts in 1990. Picture: Buena Vista Pictures

Aspel also opened up about another of his celebrity interviews to the Daily Mail.

The host fronted Aspel & Company from 1984 to 1993 during which he interviewed the likes of Barbra Streisand, Jack Nicholson, Paul McCartney and Elizabeth Taylor, who he said was “the only person I ever sent a fan letter to”.

“She was absolutely perfect, and at the end of the interview, which was very honest, funny and quite bawdy, as we were having our photographs taken, she said: ‘Is there any lipstick on my teeth?’” he recalled.

“And I thought the interview had gone very well and I could be cheeky, so I said: ‘No, but I wouldn’t mind some on mine.’ She just smiled and we went for a drink with everybody.”

Later as he was “chatting with someone else”, Taylor walked up to him and “took my face between her hands and gave me this tremendous kiss and it was magenta all across my cheek.”

Originally published as Richard Gere threatened legal action on talk show host for calling him ‘sex symbol’ on TV