In effort to get Indian truckers to use rubbers, Richard Gere gets burned effigies

Note to celebrity self: When in India, it is bad to sweep Bollywood actress into your arms and kiss her repeatedly on cheek like you've just won the lottery. Protestors retaliate by burning effigies of you.

Richard Gere was in India on Monday at an AIDS Awareness event where he was emphasizing to a bunch of truckers, "No condom. No sex." Apparently, the "on-the-roaders" are the highest at risk to catch and spread AIDS because of frequent pit stops with ladies of the evening.

Gere was so excited to have Shilpa Shetty, recent winner of "Celebrity Big Brother" in Britain as his co-host at the AIDS Awareness function that he kissed her in glee on the cheek a la "Shall We Dance" style as he felt it most communicative since he does not utter a word in Hindi. Big No-No Mr. American Gigolo. That's offending her modesty and honor in her home country. So up you go in a flame of shame.

Shilpa later told everyone to chill out and not be so "regressive." Gere apologized to Shilpa, and all is good with them. Is burning effigies of Gere a bit much?

I can see how Gere's moves could have been seen as a bit aggressive but come on guys, there was no tongue, no booty grabbing, or even boob fondling, things worth torching Gere's image Medieval style. Simple booing and hissing might have sufficed, or send Richard to sensitivity training.

See the lot of photos of Gere's "offense" here at Yahoo News Photos, and you decide.

[Yahoo News]