Tom Hanks’ Son Says He Felt “Worthless” Growing Up In Spotlight (2024)

Chet Hanks is pulling back the curtain on his childhood and letting us in on the struggles of growing up in the shadow of Hollywood royalty.

On the July 23 episode of MTV’s Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets, the 33-year-old musician thought he was just diving into a casual game of Uno with his housemates. Little did he know, the game would turn into a deep dive into his past, exposing some painful truths.

“I’ll tell you something about my childhood. People think that being Tom Hanks’ son, like, I would grow up feeling like I was the s—t,” Chet revealed during the season premiere. “I actually grew up feeling completely f—king worthless.”

Chet Says He Hates How People Perceive Him

Instead of blaming his famous parents for his struggles, Chet pointed the finger at the way others perceived him. “People treated me like, ‘You must think you’re better than me’ when I didn’t. I just wanted to be friends with everybody and be treated like everybody else,” he told his fellow cast members.

“But what am I supposed to do? Walk through the doors and be all meek and timid? That was a mind f—k for me to deal with,” he continued.

He described the tightrope he walked between self-confidence and public perception: “If you do walk in through the door and you’re like, ‘Here I am mother f—ker,’ then it’s like, ‘Oh look at you arrogant son of a bitch.’ I did internalize all that negativity. Maybe I am f—king worthless, you know what I’m saying?”

Chet didn’t shy away from discussing the mental and emotional hurdles he faced, admitting, “It was a battle for me mentally and emotionally just to be able to walk outside, look someone in the eye and say, ‘What’s up? I’m Chet.’”

While his Surreal Life experience may have revealed some raw emotions, Chet told Us Weekly that he’s determined to make the most of it.

“The Surreal Life is a different kind of show. It’s not messy and negative,” he explained. “It’s more about personal growth and relationships with people and vulnerability. It’s a completely different type of reality TV. I had full support in doing it.”

Chet Is Starring On MTV’s ‘Surreal Life’

Fans can tune in to Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET on MTV to catch more of Chet’s journey as he navigates personal revelations and growth.

Born to Hollywood legends Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Chet has spent much of his life in the limelight. Beyond his famous lineage, Chet is known for his forays into reality television, more recently with Surreal Life, a show that dives into the complexities of its participants' lives, focusing on personal growth, relationships, and vulnerability.

Despite his attempt to distance himself from his parents' towering legacy, Chet has had his share of controversies, including public disputes and legal issues, which have only amplified his need to carve out his own identity.

Chet’s story is far from over, and as he works to reshape his public image and personal life, his fans and critics alike will be watching closely. The drama and raw honesty of his Surreal Life experience promise to keep us all on the edge of our seats.