Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson
THE HOLLYWOOD A-LISTERS ALWAYS PUT THEIR FAMILY FIRST
The Hollywood couple face new concerns about their troubled son Chet.
Tom Hanks has always wanted his children to grow up with big dreams. “All that most parents hope is that their children are happy, funny, well-adjusted, and have a passion for something in their lives,” he once said.
Sadly, it seems that every time his son Chet, 30, begins taking positive steps toward his goals, he suffers another dangerous setback. In late March, Chet’s violent relationship with a recent girlfriend came to light as they accused each other of domestic violence. Chet appeared with a bleeding head wound in a widely circulated video claiming Kiana Parker had attacked him with a knife. Meanwhile, it was revealed that a Texas judge had granted Kiana a restraining order against Chet in January after he allegedly abused her and threatened to kill them both. Chet’s lawyer denies these claims, and no charges have been filed.
The oldest of Tom’s two sons with Rita Wilson had struggled for years with substance abuse. But after the birth of his daughter, Michaiah, in 2016, Chet appeared to be getting his life together. “When Michaiah was born, there was so much hope. Chet was sober and present,” says a friend. His career appeared to be on the upswing, too. Chet, an aspiring rapper, won recurring roles on the TV series
Shameless and Empire. Recently, he has also been teasing his first film project on social media, called
White Boy Summer. “We’re gonna get to edit it and come out with it real quick,” Chet promised.
While the swirling accusations of abuse seem to indicate that Chet’s road remains rocky, his attorney insists the situation is misunderstood: “The day after Chet Hanks confronted Kiana Parker about stealing money from his credit card, while Ms. Parker was accompanied by a huge male carrying a gun, she viciously attacked Chet with a knife, which caused him to profusely bleed. It is all on video, and the undisputed video tells the whole story. Her claims are completely false, fabricated and fictional.”
A PARENTS’ NIGHTMARE
Even so, it’s a situation that would upset any parent. And a source close to Tom and Rita says the couple have different parenting styles when it comes to Chet and his troubles. “Both of them have always supported Chet’s recovery, but Tom is the more tough-love parent,” explains the friend. And now that he’s 30, “Chet has to face the consequences of his actions. He’s a grown man. It’s his baggage and his bad decisions that have gotten him into trouble. He needs to clean up his own mess.”
At the same time, Tom and Rita have always been there for their children. “They’re both great parents,” insists the friend. “They love their son more than anything and will support Chet no matter what. He’s been very honest with them about his issues, and they recognize that he’s come a long way in cleaning up his act. Their kids always come first.”
Chet realizes this. He admits he is fortunate to have such understanding parents who only wish to see him healthy and happy. “They couldn’t be more supportive,” he says. “Every step of the way… They’ve always been there for me, and I’m really lucky.”
“As a parent, you
love your kids unconditionally.
You support them every step
of the way.”
—Tom Hanks