By Alexandra Heilbron on April 17, 2007 | 1 Comment
During a press conference in New Delhi to highlight the HIV/AIDS epidemic among India’s truck drivers, Richard Gere pulled Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty into his arms and kissed her several times. Giggling but embarrassed, Shetty pulled back and said, “This is a bit too much.”
Gere’s action outraged many, who took part in demonstrations during which they burned photos of Gere, because public displays of affection are largely taboo.
Speaking afterwards about the incident, Shetty said Hindus overreacted: “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. I understand people’s sentiments, but I don’t want a foreigner to take bad memories from here.”
Wile we need to be sensitive to other cultures those cultures also have to be sensitive to the outside world.