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Stallone's Memoir Reveals Start of Gere Feud
4 Oct
Summary
- Stallone details audition conflict with Richard Gere.
- A spilled chicken grease incident escalated tensions.
- Elton John recounts a 1990s near-fight over Princess Diana.
Sylvester Stallone's memoir, 'The Steps,' published on September 29, 2026, details the beginning of his long-standing conflict with Richard Gere.
The animosity started during auditions for the 1974 film 'The Lords of Flatbush.' Stallone described an audition with Robert De Niro as enjoyable, but his improvisations with Gere quickly turned sour when Gere dug his fingernails into Stallone's skin.
Stallone sought permission to react realistically, but director Stephen Verona intervened. The tension escalated to a physical confrontation during a lunch break when Gere spilled chicken grease on Stallone's leg. Stallone pulled Gere from the car, and Verona ultimately fired Gere from the film.
This feud seemingly spanned decades. Elton John recounted in his 2019 memoir an incident at a 1990s dinner party where Stallone and Gere were reportedly close to fighting over Princess Diana.
