Tom Hanks’ Sugar Land-based Son, Creator of ‘White Boy Summer,’ Faces Scrutiny — Again
Photo from @chethanx on Instagram
OCCASIONAL SUGAR LAND resident Chet Hanks, 30, the one-time rapper and sometime actor son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson — long known for his questionable internet antics, like announcing his parent's covid-19 diagnosis while shirtless last year — has been in the news quite a lot this week, most recently over allegations and counter-allegations of violence between him and his now former girlfriend, per reports.
It all started just a few days ago when Hanks set certain corners of the internet abuzz when he deemed this summer the confusingly conceptualized "White Boy Summer."
"I'm not talkin' about Trump, you know, NASCAR-type white," Hanks clarified in his video. "I'm talkin' about, you know, me, Jon B, Jack Harlow type white boy summer. Lemme know if you guys can vibe with that and, get ready, because I am."
He's since released a steady stream of videos outlining the rules and regulations of "White Boy Summer," like not wearing plaid shirts, Sperry Top-Sliders or anything salmon-colored.
"Burn it, burn that sh*t. Don't ever wear that again," writes Hanks in an Instagram story outlining the sartorial specifics of White Boy Summer, in which he urges men to wear simple black and white tees, Vans, Chucks and Jordans. "It's time for us to evolve, okay? Period. It's time for us to grow from a Pikachu to a Raichu."
But, thanks to a new scandal, it looks like White Boy Summer might be over before it begins, although his new webstore selling "White Boy Summer" merch is still up.
The Houston Chronicle reported today that a Fort Bend judge has granted a protective order against Hanks at the request of his girlfriend, a Black woman, who alleges that the actor was physically and verbally abusive. In the woman's application for the protective order, per news reports, she describes a variety of instances in which the actor allegedly became violent and aggressive toward her, including threatening to "blow [her] brains out," pushing her around, throwing things at her, breaking her phone and calling her racist slurs.
Hanks does not appear to have commented publicly on the protective order. However, late this afternoon People reported that Hanks has sued his ex-girlfriend, alleging it was she who attacked him. And in a video reportedly obtained by TMZ, Hanks is said to be seen bleeding after an altercation with his former paramour. CityBook was unable to reach Hanks for comment.
Some might observe that such unseemly drama and conflict doesn't square well with the White Boy Summer ethos, including the video in which Hanks says, "You know what's not White Boy Summer? Having any ill will or prejudice toward anybody from a different background, race, walk of life than you, you know? That's not White Boy Summer, dude … Because the real vibe is having nothing but good vibes toward everybody."
Jose Hernandez (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Sean Mohammed (photo by Daniel Ortiz)