Chet Hanks doesn't know much about the coronavirus. And that should come as a surprise, since his parents were among the first notable celebrities to get diagnosed. But at the same time, it's not very surprising — since this isn't the first time that Chet has appeared to be drastically uninformed on a big issue.
Parents Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson seem to have their own views. Rita discussed the vaccine with the Today show back in April 2021, saying that at the time, the couple were "in line" to receive vaccinations.
"It's been so emotional," she said. "We haven't gotten our vaccine yet. How about hearing this for the first time in your life: 'You're not old enough.' It's like, 'OK, I'll take that!'" she stated. "But we are in line now because so many people are vaccinated and they're opening up to the next tier."
Chet made waves with a coronavirus "joke" video where, at first, he told his social media followers to get vaccinated. He followed that up with, "Psych!"
"Look, I've been kinda on the fence about this for awhile," he said in a video. "I got the vaccine. I think everyone should. I think it's very important." But it turns out those statements were part of a setup. Later on — and filled with explicit language — Chet tells his fans that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
"I never had COVID, you ain't sticking me with that [expletive] needle, it's the [expletive] flu, get over it," Chet adds, seemingly forgetting that flu shots also exist. Chet mentioned that he was "tired" of wearing a mask. What he fails to realize is that his actions are why this virus is still an issue.
"I’m so sick of this mask [expletive], dude," he said. Then later, on his Instagram story, he posted something that stated, "THE VACCINE SHOULD BE A CHOICE NOT A REQUIREMENT TO PERFORM OUR BASIC RIGHTS…." But it's important to realize that Chet can't have it both ways. The virus is far more contagious than he's giving it credit for.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been closely monitoring the new variant, openly stating that we're not out of the woods yet. And one of the reasons why things are so bad is because so many Americans refuse to get vaccinated.
"Although breakthrough infections happen much less often than infections in unvaccinated people, individuals infected with the Delta variant, including fully vaccinated people with symptomatic breakthrough infections, can transmit it to others," the CDC states.
"CDC is continuing to assess data on whether fully vaccinated people with asymptomatic breakthrough infections can transmit," its statement continues. "However, the greatest risk of transmission is among unvaccinated people who are much more likely to contract, and therefore transmit the virus." Chet is lucky that he, most likely, doesn't have anyone in his life who died from complications from the virus. If he did, it's possible this video never would have happened.
This isn't the first time that Chet has made the headlines for something outlandish. One of the biggest controveries has been his unapologetic use of the N-word. As he told TMZ, "All I'm saying is white people use that term. It's like an unspoken thing among their black friends or whatever."
Chet has been open about his struggles with addiction before. While it's good to know that he's sought help in the past, it's not an excuse to spread false information. Still, it's important to recognize that he's addressed it before and made vows to get better. According to Us Weekly, one of his battles was growing up in the spotlight.
"You know, at the end of the day, all that stupid [expletive] I was doing, that's not who I am. That’s not who I want to be," he said. "It's been a long journey discovering who I am. If you're struggling with this [expletive], take yourself to a meeting. Call some people." That's one statement that does carry a lot of truth.
Chet also raised eyebrows after he chose to talk with a Jamaican accent at the Golden Globes in 2020. The move caused a lot of controversy, and many accused him of cultural appropriation. Chet tried to convince others that it didn't come from an offensive place — yet also failed to understand that some people could be offended by it.
Luckily, Tom Hanks has a better solution to try to help the country. Even before the vaccine was available, he made sure to share his voice. "The idea of doing one's part, though, should be so simple — wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands," Tom told Today. "That alone means you are contributing to the betterment of your house, your work, your town, your society as a whole, and it's such a small thing. It's a mystery to me how somehow that has been wiped out of what should be ingrained in the behavior of us all."
Tom even discussed his own experiences with COVID-19, saying that Rita was hit even worse than he was. "Rita went through a tougher time than I did," he admitted to The National Defense Radio Show. “She had a much higher fever and she had some other symptoms. She lost her sense of taste and smell. She got absolutely no joy from food for a better part of three weeks." Some people who've had COVID-19 have lost their senses for even longer.
There's a good chance that Tom and Rita won't pipe in on Chet's claims, as they often try to stay away from their son's explosive commentary. But it's intriguing to see their completely different viewpoints. Hopefully, Chet doesn't end up getting sick or losing someone he loves. This virus is serious, and it has already done enough damage as it is.
