Tom Hanks and Tim Allen made a surprise appearance at Soccer Aid on Sunday, but their interview segment left many viewers cringing. The Hollywood stars, in the UK to promote Toy Story 5, joined the charity match at London Stadium for a brief interview with influencer GK Barry, which quickly descended into awkwardness.
During the chat, Allen admitted he had 'watched the game' but seemed confused about the rules, while Hanks explained that 'you cannot use your hands'. The pair struggled to name any players, with Hanks only able to recall founder Robbie Williams, and Allen jokingly asking if Elton John was playing. GK Barry helped them out by mentioning Tom Hiddleston and Wayne Rooney.
Viewers took to social media to express their discomfort. One wrote: 'Wow that was awful fair play to GK for keeping that kind of together', while another said: 'Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have no idea who any of those people are'. A third added: 'This feels like some sort of weird fever dream right now'.
However, the duo redeemed themselves when they brought out the match ball to cheers, with Allen declaring: 'Whoa! That is a crowd!' Hanks comically slicked back his hair using the trophy as a mirror. Allen then read out the fundraising total, which had already exceeded £4 million, and shouted: 'To infinity and beyond!'
Soccer Aid, celebrating its 20th anniversary, raised funds for Unicef and featured a mix of celebrities and former professional footballers, including Tom Grennan, Richard Gadd, and Jermain Defoe.
