Gay rumours about Richard Gere have been circulating for years – being a strong supporter for gay rights and HIV fundraising in the past has probably added fuel to the speculation.

Recently UK’s Radio 4 paid homage to the late comic writer Alan Coren, during which they mentioned an exchange that took place between Coren and actor Michael Caine, who used to live next door to Gere.

“You must know the answer to the big question, Michael. Is Richard Gere gay?” Coren once asked him, to which he said, “I don’t know if he is actually gay, but he would probably help out if they were short-handed.”

We’re not sure what Caine is basing his opinion on, and whether or not being someone’s neighbour necessarily qualifies him to make such statements.

It’s certainly a different story to the one Gere and his then wife Cindy Crawford told the world when they took out a full page ad in the London Times in 1994 declaring their heterosexuality.

“We are heterosexual and monogamous and take our commitment to each other very seriously,” the ad read. “Reports of a divorce are totally false. We remain very married. We both look forward to having a family. Marriage is hard enough without all these negative speculations.”

I guess you can’t believe everything you read.