Chet Hanks, the son of Hollywood icons Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, has charted a vastly different path from his siblings, embracing the label of the family's 'black sheep.' The 35-year-old actor, who appears in the Netflix hit Running Point, recently revealed he is living in an RV in a trailer park in Tennessee as he attempts to launch a country music career.
A Life of Contrasts
Born into immense wealth and opportunity, Chet's life has been marked by scandals and controversies, setting him apart from his brother Truman and half-siblings Colin and Elizabeth Ann, who have all pursued more conventional entertainment careers. While his parents reside in a $26 million, 14,513-square-foot mansion in Pacific Palisades, Chet has chosen a motorhome lifestyle, explaining that he dislikes hotels and AirBnBs because he 'likes his own space.'
Struggles with Privilege and Addiction
Chet has previously discussed the negative impact of his privileged upbringing, claiming it hindered his ability to form genuine relationships. In a 2022 YouTube video, he 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.' He described feeling 'deeply insecure and ashamed' of his upbringing, which led him to rebel and go 'about as far in the opposite direction of my upbringing as I could go.'
His rebellion included a struggle with drug addiction that began at age 16. Chet revealed he started taking drugs at 16 and sought help at 24, stating, 'I was selling coke [and] doing coke until I couldn't even snort it up my nose anymore because it was so clogged. I even smoked crack.' His parents sent him to a 'wilderness camp' in 2008, but it was ineffective. A later stint in rehab helped him get clean, with Tom Hanks supporting him 'every step of the way.'
Controversies and Public Backlash
Under the influence of drugs, Chet sparked controversy by defending his use of the N-word on social media in 2015, claiming it 'unifies the culture of hip-hop across all races.' He later apologized, attributing his behavior to being 'on a lot of drugs.' He also faced accusations of cultural appropriation for speaking in a fake Jamaican accent, which he defended as 'my only liberation from the constant activity of my mental.'
In 2021, Chet declared it 'white boy summer,' leading to widespread mockery and accusations of racism. He later released a song titled White Boy Summer. That same year, he adopted an anti-vaccine stance, refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and making unsubstantiated claims about its safety.
Domestic Abuse Allegations
Chet was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-girlfriend Kiana Parker in a $1 million civil suit filed in 2021. The lawsuit alleged physical and psychological terrorization, including threats of murder-suicide and racial slurs. Chet's lawyer dismissed the claims as a 'shakedown,' and Chet filed a countersuit alleging that Parker attacked him with a pot.
A New Chapter in Country Music
In recent years, Chet has focused on his music career, pivoting from rap to country. He explained, 'When I got sober, it was hard to continue doing rap because so much of my lifestyle when I was doing rap was influenced by substances. So it just allowed me to pull the layers back and start telling other sides of my story.'
As he embarks on this new chapter in Tennessee, Chet continues to navigate the complexities of his famous lineage while forging his own identity, one that remains firmly outside the Hollywood spotlight his parents inhabit.
