How Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere came to blows over Princess Diana

A-list drama collided with royal intrigue in the '90s when Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere reportedly almost came to blows over none other than Princess Diana.

According to Edward White’s new book Dianaworld: An Obsession, tensions ran high during a star-studded gathering at Elton John's house. 

The late Princess of Wales, who famously captivated both the public and celebrities alike, was deep in conversation with Gere when Stallone allegedly lost his cool, feeling sidelined.

The account, which echoes a similar story shared in Elton John’s 2019 memoir Me, claims Stallone arrived at the party hoping to charm Diana, but quickly grew frustrated as he watched her bond with Gere. 

John’s husband, David Furnish, reportedly had to intervene after the two Hollywood icons squared up for a fistfight in the corridor.

"According to Elton John, Sylvester Stallone turned up with the intention of picking up Diana, which is wishful thinking in several ways," White told Fox News Digital. 

"He saw Diana deep in conversation with Richard Gere, and as the evening wore on, he became increasingly angry."

Although Stallone previously dismissed the story as a "complete fabrication," according to Biography.com, the legend persists. 

John recalled in his memoir how the mood of the evening shifted as the Stallone-Gere showdown threatened to erupt, until Furnish smoothed things over and brought both men back to the dinner table.

Princess Diana, as ever, appeared "completely unruffled" by the drama.

Beyond the alleged scuffle, White’s book also dives into other anecdotes that reveal Diana’s magnetic pull on the A-list. 

During a London lunch for the Barnardo’s children’s charity, it was claimed that Stallone "really, really wanted to sit next to the Princess of Wales," only to be gently redirected to a seat near a child sitting beside Diana. 

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