If you’re wondering what Richard Gere is up to these days, he’s been holidaying in Italy….and delivering groceries to more than 100 people stranded on board a charity ship in the Mediterranean.
The Hollywood star unloaded boxes of fruit, vegetables and water on the Open Arms vessel, which rescued men, women and children from two rafts more than a week ago. Many of them have fled their homes in Libya and Sudan due to war, persecution or poverty and are now being denied entry into both Italy and Malta, leaving them stranded at sea, with diminishing food supplies.
“We have our problems with refugees coming from Honduras, Salavador, Nicaragua, Mexico,” the actor said during a news conference on the Italian island of Lampedusa. “It’s very similar to what you are going through here,” he continued, concerned about how both the American and Italian governments are treating migrants and refugees.
“This has to stop on this planet now. And it will stop if we say ‘stop.'”
But Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini isn’t too impressed. He’s released a statement ridiculing the actor for his involvement:
“Given this generous millionaire is voicing concern for the fate of the Open Arms migrants, we thank him: he can take back to Hollywood, on his private plane, all the people aboard and support them in his villas. Thank you Richard!”
