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Chet Hanks Shares 'The Truth' About Growing Up As Tom Hanks' Son
Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Chet Hanks Shares 'The Truth' About Growing Up As Tom Hanks' Son

Tom Hanks' middle son, Chet Hanks, has taken to YouTube to speak out about just what it has been like growing up as the actor's son.

Tom Hanks' middle son, Chet, has taken to YouTube to speak out about just what it has been like growing up as the actor's son.

Chet Hanks has previously made headlines for speaking out against coronavirus vaccinations, as well as revealing his jump to OnlyFans.

However, on February 16, the 31-year-old took to social media to address just what it's really like being the son of none other than Bafta award-winning Forrest Gump legend Tom Hanks.

In a video titled 'The Truth About Growing Up As A Hanks', Chet told followers how he was going to 'go a lot deeper and a lot realer' on the channel opposed to what he usually posts on Instagram.

While reflecting on his single White Boy Summer, the rapper noted how he is often asked about what it was like growing up as Tom Hanks' son; the 'most memorable time' being when he was 14 years old at the White House, and asked the question by former President George W Bush.

'The answer I gave him then, is pretty much the same answer I give people now. I said, 'Well, Mr President, there's a lot of advantages, but sometimes it can be pretty weird'.'

Chet Hanks opens up about what it was like growing up with a famous father on his YouTube channel. (Chet Hanx/ YouTube)
Chet Hanks opens up about what it was like growing up with a famous father on his YouTube channel. (Chet Hanx/ YouTube)

Chet went on to tell followers how his answer back when he was 14 is 'still true to this day'.

He reflected that the advantages are 'self-explanatory' and said that he is 'very blessed'.

Chet also explained how he 'wouldn't change my situation for everything, you know, I love my parents. I wouldn't want any different parents and I wouldn't want any different life'.

However, the rapper then went on to state how 'the truth is' that growing up with a father like Tom Hanks proved to be 'a double-edged sword'.

Chet Hanks with parents Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. (Alamy)
Chet Hanks with parents Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. (Alamy)

'It's a lot more complicated. And not so many people understand it. You've got to keep in mind that fame is the most powerful drug known to man and it can also be the most destructive,' Chet explained.

He stated, 'My experience was even more complicated, because on top of fame already being toxic, I wasn't even famous, you know? I was just the son of somebody famous, so I hadn't even done anything to deserve any sort of recognition and that created a lot of contempt for me.

'My dad is beloved, he is on this pedestal, but for me it created a lot of contempt because [...] people automatically assumed in general that I would just be a really arrogant, entitled, spoilt brat, even though I really wasn't. I was very privileged, but I wasn't spoiled.'

Hanks family photo at Artists' Dinner. (Alamy)
Hanks family photo at Artists' Dinner. (Alamy)

Chet detailed how he was never given 'money or an allowance' by his parents and had to 'earn everything [he] has made', which he is 'really grateful' for.

In high school, Chet explained that 'everywhere he went' 'people had this preconceived notion' of him and that he 'encountered a lot of disdain, animosity and negativity, because everyone was just prepared to hate my guts'.

'And that caused me to develop a chip on my shoulder and walk around with a lot of anger,' he said.

Chet Hanks opens up about growing up with a famous father on his YouTube channel. (Chet Hanx/ YouTube)
Chet Hanks opens up about growing up with a famous father on his YouTube channel. (Chet Hanx/ YouTube)

From being gossiped about behind his back to being hated 'outright' and people 'pretending' to be his friend, Chet also claimed some people just wanted to 'get close to him because they were infatuated' with Tom Hanks.

Overall, Chet explained that growing up with a famous father made him 'distrustful' and 'defensive', which 'developed into hostility', but that he didn't blame his father's fame, but people's jealousy.

Chet resolved that the difficulties he faced growing up with Tom as a father and the impact they had on his character 'took him a long time to realise'.

However, he concluded that he has 'changed [his] life' and altered the self-destructive and 'pleasure-seeking through partying, drugs, alcohol, substances', promising to always give followers the 'whole truth' about him life via his YouTube channel.

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Topics: Tom Hanks