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Former New England Resident Richard Gere Flips Middle Finger On 'Today' Show: Here's Why

Richard Gere began his latest appearance on the "Today" show with a gesture that had to be blurred. 

Actor Richard Gere (left) flipped the bird during his "Today" show appearance with co-anchor Savannah Guthrie (right). 

Actor Richard Gere (left) flipped the bird during his "Today" show appearance with co-anchor Savannah Guthrie (right). 

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Isaac Rodriguez, Harald Krichel

The "An Officer and a Gentleman" actor, age 75, appeared on NBC's "Today" on Wednesday, Nov. 20, and started his interview with co-anchor Savannah Guthrie by giving a middle finger, according to a report by People.

The gesture prompted shock from Guthrie, who joked, "You just did an obscene gesture on this family morning show! I'm bleeping you!" 

If you're wondering why Gere chose to start off his appearance like that, it's because the show had just shown a clip from his new television series, "The Agency," and had cut it off before his character flipped the bird, People reported.

"You didn't show but that's what I did in the piece! That's what the clip was!" Gere explained on the show, adding, "My hand did that, I have no control!" according to the outlet. 

What made the obscene moment even funnier was that iconic singer Cher had just dropped an f-bomb the day before during her "Today" appearance. 

"You know, Cher was on here doing an F-bomb yesterday so I don't know what's happening!" Guthrie said on Wednesday's show. 

Click here to read the full report by People. 

The "Pretty Woman" actor had been on the show to promote "The Agency," which will surprisingly be his first appearance on a television series. 

According to Paramount+, the series will be an espionage political thriller and will follow covert CIA agent Martian (played by Michael Fassbender), who is ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. 

Gere will play London Station Chief "Bosko," who has a "storied past" after serving as an undercover agent for eight years, according to Paramount+. 

The series, which will also star Jeffrey Wright, is set to premiere on Friday, Nov. 29. 

Gere, a longtime Northern Westchester County resident who owns a North Salem property and also sold his 32-acre property in the nearby Connecticut town of New Canaan in October, made headlines in early November when he revealed he would be leaving the US to move to Spain.

The "American Gigolo" star explained to Vanity Fair Spain that his wife, Alejandra Silva, is from La Coruña, Spain, and he wants to live closer to his in-laws.

Gere and Silva, age 41, married in 2018 and have two young children. 

In addition to "The Agency," Gere is also set to star in "Oh, Canada," a film that will release in theaters on Thursday, Dec. 5.

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