Tom Hanks is perhaps the most beloved actor in America. Decent, normal, everyone's favorite movie dad.
His son Chet speaks in a Jamaican accent, has face tattoos, and declared "White Boy Summer" on Instagram.
The disconnect between father and son is one of Hollywood's most fascinating dynamics.
The Father
Tom Hanks represents:
- Wholesome American values
- Two-time Oscar winner
- Beloved by everyone
- Normal guy energy
- Mr. Rogers, essentially
He's the most "normal" famous person in Hollywood.
The Son
Chet Hanks represents:
- Chaos
- Cultural appropriation questions
- Face tattoos
- Viral moments
- Confusion about his identity
He's the most "what is happening" celebrity kid.
The Accent
Chet frequently speaks in:
- Jamaican patois
- Various Caribbean accents
- "Island mon" voice
- Not his natural speaking voice
He's from Los Angeles. The accent is a choice.
White Boy Summer
In 2021, Chet declared "White Boy Summer":
- Video announcement
- Meant to be positive (he says)
- Immediately controversial
- Became a meme
The intentions were unclear. The execution was chaotic.
The Face Tattoos
Chet's tattoos include:
- Face tattoos
- Hand tattoos
- Neck tattoos
- Traditional Samoan-inspired work
Tom Hanks reportedly was not thrilled.
The Substance Issues
Chet has been open about:
- Cocaine addiction
- Recovery process
- Mental health struggles
- His journey to sobriety
He's been honest about these issues, to his credit.
The Other Hanks Kids
Tom Hanks has four children:
- Colin Hanks: Normal actor, normal career
- Elizabeth Hanks: Writer, normal
- Chet Hanks: Chaos
- Truman Hanks: Normal, works in film
Three normal kids. One Chet.
The Acting Career
Chet has actually worked as an actor:
- Empire (TV series)
- Shameless
- Your Honor
- Various smaller roles
He's a working actor. The chaos is separate from the career.
The Relationships
Chet's relationships have been public:
- Ex-girlfriend Kiana Parker (messy breakup)
- Allegations from both sides
- Legal issues
- Public fights
His personal life is as chaotic as his persona.
The Golden Globes Moment
At the 2020 Golden Globes:
- Tom was being honored
- Chet spoke in patois on the red carpet
- "Big up the whole Caribbean"
- Tom and Rita looked uncomfortable
It became a viral moment of parental confusion.
Tom's Response
Tom Hanks on Chet:
- Mostly doesn't discuss publicly
- Has defended him generally
- Clearly loves him
- Doesn't understand him
The supportive but baffled father.
The Cultural Appropriation Question
Chet's accent raises questions:
- Is it appropriation?
- He says he respects the culture
- Others say it's mockery
- The debate continues
Where appreciation ends and appropriation begins is debated.
The Self-Awareness
Is Chet self-aware?
- Sometimes seems in on the joke
- Sometimes seems serious
- Hard to tell
- Maybe both
The ambiguity is part of the persona.
The Privilege Question
Chet represents nepo baby privilege:
- Name got him opportunities
- Face tattoos wouldn't fly for others
- His chaos is tolerated
- Because his dad is Tom Hanks
Regular people can't behave this way and work in Hollywood.
The Defenders
Some people defend Chet:
- He's being himself
- He's struggled and been honest
- He's not hurting anyone
- Let him live
There's an argument that he's harmless chaos.
The Critics
Critics of Chet say:
- He's appropriating culture
- He's embarrassing his father
- He's trading on privilege
- He's not talented enough for this attention
There's an argument that he's earned his criticism.
The Music
Chet has released music:
- Rap songs
- R&B influenced
- Not successful commercially
- Adds to the persona
The music is about what you'd expect.
The Social Media
Chet's social media is:
- Unpredictable
- Sometimes deleted
- Often controversial
- Never boring
He's appointment viewing for chaos.
Tom and Rita's Parenting
What did Tom and Rita do?
- They're clearly good parents
- Three normal kids prove it
- Sometimes kids just are who they are
- Nature vs. nurture
Chet is evidence that good parenting doesn't guarantee predictable outcomes.
The Brother Dynamic
Colin Hanks vs. Chet Hanks:
- Colin: Steady career, normal life
- Chet: Chaos, viral moments
- Both sons of Tom
- Completely different outcomes
Same parents, opposite results.
The Redemption Arc?
Is Chet having a redemption arc?
- He's been sober
- He's still working
- He's self-aware sometimes
- Maybe calming down?
Time will tell if he stabilizes.
What It Means
Chet Hanks represents:
- Nepo babies aren't all the same
- Privilege has limits
- Parents can't control outcomes
- Fame creates strange children
He's a case study in privilege and identity.
The Entertainment Value
Chet Hanks is entertaining:
- Unpredictable
- Genuinely funny sometimes
- Never boring
- Quality chaos
There's value in unpredictability.
The Lesson
Chet Hanks teaches:
- Children are their own people
- Privilege doesn't guarantee smooth outcomes
- Fame warps everything
- Some people just are who they are
- Family dynamics are complicated
Tom Hanks is America's dad.
His son Chet speaks in a fake Jamaican accent and has face tattoos.
Some things can't be explained.
They can only be observed with fascination.
And maybe that's enough.
