Who is Tom Hanks’s son, Chet Hanks and why is he so controversial?

Chet Hanks, born in 1990, is an American actor and musician, primarily recognized as the son of renowned actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.

Hanks has starred in movies such as "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and TV series like "Empire" and "Shameless." He has also been candid about his previous challenges, discussing his journey to recovery from addiction in public forums.

In spring 2021, posted a series of statements and a music video with a refrain that stirred confusion and some discomfort. He proclaimed it would be a "white boy summer."

Regardless of his original intent, the phrase has evolved into a rallying cry for white supremacists and other hate groups, as reported recently by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, an organization monitoring the proliferation of racism.

How did Tom Hanks's son, Chet Hanks, and his phrase "white boy summer" become associated with white supremacy?

According to the report, this year thousands of posts featuring the phrase "white boy summer" have surfaced on the Telegram app.

Far-right groups have utilized it to attract new members, plan demonstrations, and incite violence, particularly targeting immigrants and LGBTQ individuals.

Today, for many users, the phrase symbolizes a bold embrace of white heterosexual masculinity, frequently marginalizing women and people of color in the process.

Tom Hanks’s son, Chet Hanks makes the white boy summer music video as Chet Hanx…

A month later, a music video was released under the alias Chet Hanx. It paid homage to Megan Thee Stallion's 2019 hit "Hot Girl Summer," which featured Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign.

The video is filled with explicit language, along with sexist and racial epithets, yet it concludes with a scene showing Mr. Hanks wearing a shirt that reads “stop hate.”

What are some other controversies surrounding Chet Hanks?

Prior to the meme's emergence, Mr. Hanks had already drawn criticism for using and defending his use of a racial slur directed at Black people.

Additionally, he faced accusations of cultural appropriation for adopting Jamaican patois as part of his public persona, notably at events like the 2020 Golden Globe Awards where Tom Hanks was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

What has Tom Hanks said about his son, Chet Hanks’s controversies?

Tom Hanks has not publicly addressed his relationship with Chet Hanks. However, Chet recently shared a text exchange with his father about the recent feud between rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, Tom Hanks discussed his perspective on parenthood.

“Somewhere along the line, I figured out, the only thing really, I think, eventually a parent can do is say: ‘I love you, there’s nothing you can do wrong, you cannot hurt my feelings, I hope you will forgive me on occasion, and what do you need me to do?’” he shared.