In the entertainment industry, working on a film or TV series can be a challenging job for everyone involved. Sometimes, co-stars can clash and create problems on set, causing unexpected tensions. This was the case for Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone, who worked together on the 1974 film The Lords of Flatbush. Although the film wasn’t very successful, the incident that occurred between Gere and Stallone has become infamous.
The Chicken Incident: The Reason Behind the Feud
According to Sylvester Stallone, he and Richard Gere never got along while filming The Lords of Flatbush. Stallone claimed that Gere’s attitude was the root of the problem. In a 2006 interview with Ain’t It Cool News, Stallone stated,
“We never hit it off. He would strut around in his oversized motorcycle jacket like he was the baddest knight at the round table.”
Despite the tension, the filming continued. However, things came to a head during an improv scene when Gere grabbed Stallone and got a little too carried away. Stallone told him to lighten up, but Gere was so immersed in his character that he was impossible to deal with.
The final straw occurred during a break in filming at Coney Island. Sylvester Stallone was eating a hot dog in the back seat of a Toyota when Gere climbed in with a half-chicken covered in mustard. Stallone warned him that the chicken would drip everywhere, but Gere disregarded his warning. Stallone said,
“Then we were rehearsing at Coney Island and it was lunchtime, so we decided to take a break, and the only place that was warm was in the backseat of a Toyota. I was eating a hotdog and he climbs in with a half a chicken covered in mustard with grease nearly dripping out of the aluminum wrapper. I said, ‘That thing is going to drip all over the place.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry about it.'”
As predicted, the chicken dripped mustard on Stallone’s pants. Stallone elbowed Gere in the head and pushed him out of the car.
Sylvester Stallone’s reaction resulted in Richard Gere being fired from the film. The director had to make a quick decision about whether to continue filming with the duo or recast someone. It turned out that Gere was the odd man out, and he was subsequently fired from the film.
It should be noted that Stallone’s account of the incident is just one side of the story, and over time, some of the details may have become unclear. However, another perspective suggests that the root cause of the conflict between the two actors may have been linked to their mutual interest in Princess Diana.
Aftermath of the Richard Gere – Sylvester Stallone Feud
In his autobiography, Elton John shed some light on the feud between the two actors. According to John, Gere and Princess Diana had developed a friendship that was not sitting well with Sylvester Stallone. He even went as far as trying to pick up Princess Diana, but his plans were ruined when Richard Gere showed up.
“Diana and Richard Gere’s newly blossoming friendship was not going down well with Sylvester Stallone at all. I think he may have turned up to the party with the express intention of picking Diana up, only to find his plans for the evening ruined.”
According to the singer, this particular situation may have been the cause of the conflict between the two actors. Although the details of the feud between Gere and Stallone may have gotten muddled over the years, it’s clear that the two actors did not get along while filming The Lords of Flatbush.
However, regardless of the truth behind the matter, it is safe to say that both Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone could have handled the situation in a more professional manner.
Source: The Things
