American Gigolo

In April 2007, actor Richard Gere sparked protests after he shared a series of very public kisses with Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty at an AIDS-awareness event in New Delhi. First the Pretty Woman star kissed her hand. Then each side of her neck. Then he offered a very tight hug, dipped the star and planted multiple kisses on her cheeks. While the PDA drew giggles from Shetty, Gere missed the memo that such displays are still largely frowned upon in India. Protesters responded by burning effigies of Gere, and the story made newspaper front pages on the subcontinent. For her part, Shetty didn't seem to mind. "It was not so obscene ... I understand this is his culture, not ours," she said.

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