Chet Hanks Says His Parent's Fame Is 'A Double-Edged Sword' And It Was Difficult Growing Up As Tom Hanks' Son

Feb 24, 2022 by apost team

Tom Hanks is an American actor that is widely regarded as a Hollywood icon due to the way his films have impacted American popular culture. He is recognized the world over, and his films have grossed billions of dollars both in North America and worldwide. Tom is considered to be the fourth highest-grossing actor in North America. 

Being famous at this level impacts nearly every area of a person's life, including their family. Tom's son Chet Hanks shared a video on Youtube on February 15, 2022, that was titled "The Truth About Growing Up As A Hanks" and it shows Chet speaking directly to the camera about his experiences growing up and how they have impacted him. He is the son of Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson.

Chet is an actor like his parents, as well as a musician. He has had recurring roles on the television series "Shameless" and "Empire." Although he has come to terms with fame now at the age of 32, growing up, it was not easy for him. Chet shared that he often felt misunderstood and that people would make assumptions about him because he comes from a wealthy and famous family. 

Chet has been involved in a number of controversies, and most include his ex-girlfriend Kiana Parker, who received a protection order against the actor due to allegations of physical and mental abuse. He has also shared that he has moved away from a partying lifestyle and credits his parents and daughter Micaiah for helping him overcome his struggles with addiction.

Keep reading to find out what else Chet had to say about growing up as Tom Hanks' son.

Chet was very candid in his Youtube video, which was posted to his own channel. He shared how difficult it was to grow up with a mega-famous family and how that impacted him. However, he made it clear that he would not change anything about his life if given the chance. "I love my parents," he said. "I wouldn't want any different parents, and I wouldn't want any different life, so I'm very grateful and blessed for all that."

Despite not wanting to change his family, Chet admits that fame is not always a good thing for a person. The "Shameless" actor added: "The truth is it is a double-edged sword. It's a lot more complicated and not so many people really understand it."

Chet knows that he is fortunate for the exceptional life he has lived due to having famous parents. He elaborated, saying, "There's a lot of advantages but sometimes it can be pretty weird. I got to do a lot of cool s--t that a lot of people don't get the opportunity to do. I got to travel the world, stay in nice hotels, fly on private planes and I'm very blessed for that. I wouldn't change my situation."

However, the 32-year-old was entirely aware that the fame and attention were not due to his own merit. "My experience was even more complicated because on top of fame already being toxic, I wasn't even famous," Chet said. "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."

apost.com

For the father of one, fame was toxic and lead to destruction when left unchecked. "You've got to keep in mind that fame is the most powerful drug known to man," Chet explained. "It can also be the most destructive. People are infatuated with fame: They put famous people on a pedestal."

One of the hardest parts was when people would make assumptions about Chet based on his famous family. "People would make up their minds about me before they even got the chance to know me and it was extremely hard to break down their walls," he said. He also admitted that going through this made him develop a "hard exterior" and that he had a "chip on his shoulder."

One common misconception that really bothered Chet was the assumption that he never had to earn anything in his life. "I'm very privileged, but I wasn't spoiled," Chet shared. "My parents didn't spoil me; I was never just given money or an allowance. I had to work and earn everything that I've made, and it's been that way for my entire life."

The "Empire" actor reassured his viewers that things are going well for him now and he has overcome a lot of the hardships he experienced growing up. At the end of the video, Chet said he's "just now getting to the point where I'm starting to truly feel that I don't really have anything to prove to anyone. All in all, I'm really happy, and I'm really blessed. I've learned a lot about myself."

Are you a fan of Tom Hanks? What do you think about what Chet Hanks had to say about growing up as Tom Hanks' son? Let us know and be sure to pass this on to your friends and family.