Tom Hanks and his son Chet Hanks recently made headlines as they posed for a rare photo together during their holiday celebrations.
Chet, 33, shared the moment on Instagram with the caption, “Gang,” on Tuesday, December 26. The photo captured both father and son sharing subtle smiles as they sat in close proximity.
Tom, 67, sported a green hooded coat, an evergreen beanie, and clear-rimmed glasses as he leaned in towards his son. Chet, on the other hand, was dressed in a white T-shirt, black hoodie, and a black Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap.
This winter snapshot marked the first time the Oscar winner appeared on Chet’s social media page. However, Tom’s wife and Chet’s mother, Rita Wilson, had previously made an appearance on the account back in May.
On Mother’s Day, Chet expressed his affection for his mother with the message, “The biggest G I know @ritawilson love you mom ❤️,” sharing a snapshot of the two of them on Instagram.
Chet is the eldest son of Tom and Rita, who tied the knot in April 1988. They also share another son, Truman Hanks. Tom is also a father to actor Colin Hanks and daughter Elizabeth Ann Hanks, born with his late wife Samantha Lewes.
Despite the seemingly amicable photo with his father, Chet has had a tumultuous relationship with his parents over the years. During Chet’s struggles with addiction, Tom publicly emphasized his unconditional love for all his children.
The Saving Mr. Banks actor told Entertainment Tonight in October 2015, “You support them every step of the way. You have to applaud the bravery and honesty when it actually comes out of your own house.”
One of the positive moments between Tom and Chet was when they co-starred in the 2020 film “Greyhound.” However, the following year, Chet offered a slightly different perspective on his childhood during an appearance on the “Impaulsive” podcast in February 2021, stating that his parents did not “spoil” him.
In February 2022, Chet shared a contrasting viewpoint in a YouTube video, describing his upbringing as “complicated.” He alleged that, on top of the inherent challenges of fame, he had to contend with being the son of someone famous, which generated significant negativity.
Chet further claimed, “People kinda did f–k with me a lot growing up,” although it was seldom to his face. “It was always behind my back in the form of gossip and s–t talking. I was also extremely distrustful of people and defensive,” he said.
Continuing, Chet said, “I didn’t have a strong male role model to tell me that. To tell me, ‘Bro, f–k these people. They are just jealous of you. You have all these things that they want so they are trying to f–king throw their shade at you so you can feel s–ty about yourself because they are jealous,’” he said. “I needed to hear that. I didn’t have anyone to tell me that. This is me now telling the younger version of myself what I needed to hear then.”
As of now, Tom has not publicly responded to Chet’s allegations, but we have reached out to his representatives for comment.
