- Chet Hanks is apologizing
- White boy summer is not what it seems
- THIS is his statement online
Amidst tackling his past cocaine addiction revelations, Hanks faces the daunting task of reclaiming his controversial term from the clutches of white supremacists. This is the whirlwind surrounding Tom Hanks' son, from his intentions behind the viral term to his efforts in promoting unity and love amidst controversy.
Chet is not like his dad
It's been a rollercoaster of a week for Chet Hanks, and it's only Wednesday! The son of Hollywood icon Tom Hanks has been making headlines left and right—first for his jaw-dropping admission of a past cocaine addiction, and now for his attempt to clarify the intentions behind his viral phrase, "white boy summer."
Chet Hanks shocked fans and foes alike when he candidly discussed his extreme love for cocaine on a recent podcast. His addiction was so severe that even fellow "cokeheads" urged him to take it down a notch. Talk about a wake-up call!
"White boy summer was created to be fun, playful, and a celebration of fly white boys who love beautiful queens of every race," Hanks wrote in the post on Wednesday. "Anything else that it has been twisted into to support any kind of hate or bigotry against any group of people is deplorable and I condemn it."
But the cocaine saga was just the tip of the iceberg. Hanks found himself in hot water over his 2021 "white boy summer" social media posts and rap video. What was meant as a playful nod to Megan Thee Stallion's "Hot Girl Summer" quickly spiraled out of control when white supremacist groups hijacked the phrase.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Hanks clarified, "White boy summer was created to be fun, playful, and a celebration of fly white boys who love beautiful queens of every race." He vehemently condemned any hate or bigotry twisted into the phrase by others.
This isn't the first rodeo for Hanks in explaining "white boy summer." Initially, he aimed to highlight an embrace of Black culture, distancing the phrase from any "Trump, NASCAR-type white" connotations. Yet, despite his efforts, the phrase found new, unwelcome life among racial hate factions.
But the phrase continued to gain traction in a different way. According to a report from the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism via NYT, the phrase has been circulated thousands of times on the far-right messaging app Telegram, which is often used to spread white supremacist ideologies.
Even though Hanks has tried yet again to retrieve the questionable phrase he put out into the ethos, it’s hard to say whether his efforts will redeem him in the eyes of many who still remember the 2021 accusations of physical and verbal abuse made by his former girlfriend, who alleged that he called her a "Black bitch"—or his (now deleted) anti-vax rants on social media, as his parents Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were both hospitalized with the illness.
"It’s the motherfu--ing flu," he said in a social media post at the time, "Get over it. OK? If you’re sick, stay inside. Why are we working around y’all? If you’re in danger, stay your ass inside. I’m tired of wearing a motherfucking mask."
Also interesting:
Intervention time
Once again...
Hanks' battle to reclaim "white boy summer" is overshadowed by past controversies, including accusations of abuse and anti-vax rants. Yet, in his latest plea for understanding, Hanks calls for love, kindness, and dignity among all.
As Chet Hanks navigates these turbulent waters, one can only hope his message of unity resonates louder than the controversies of his past. Yes, Chet—let us hope indeed.
