Chet Hanks, son of actor Tom Hanks, confronted comedian Eric André at the ComplexCon event in Los Angeles over the weekend. A video posted by Hanks on Instagram shows him approaching André, who was accompanied by security personnel, and engaging in a brief verbal exchange. Hanks later shared the video with a caption detailing his account of the interaction.
Hanks’ Account of the Confrontation
In the caption accompanying the video, Hanks stated that André initially appeared to have no memory of past criticisms directed at him. Hanks claimed André admitted to having a problem with Hanks’ portrayal of a Jamaican accent during a past appearance on The Eric Andre Show. The caption read: “Finally ran into @ericf-----gandre, who apparently travels to ComplexCon with 4 security guards (because the environment makes him uneasy) and who had NO MEMORY WHATSOEVER of trashing me to the media after I outshined him on his own show!!” Hanks added sarcastically: “WHO KNEW that in addition to the brain rot and poop joke humor he is known for, Eric is also such a passionate cultural activist!!!”
The video shows Hanks placing his hand on André’s shoulder as André turns to him and asks, “What’s up?” in a neutral tone. Hanks then appears to speak to André directly, though the audio is inaudible. André shrugs in response before security personnel intervene, obscuring the view. The video concludes with André and his security team walking away while Hanks and his companions laugh. Hanks captioned the post with “That was a long time coming.”
Eric André’s Past Comments
The tension between Hanks and André stems from remarks made by André in a March 2023 interview with Rolling Stone. During the interview, André described Hanks’ guest appearance on The Eric Andre Show as “dangerous” and recounted incidents where Hanks allegedly disrupted production. André stated: “He stole a motorcycle and rode it around. He almost knocked a bunch of grips and gaffers off their ladders. It was very dangerous. He tried to prank us back, but we edited out all his b—! He’s not well.”
Hanks has previously gained attention for his unironic use of a Jamaican accent, including at the 2020 Golden Globes red carpet, where he coined the phrase “White Boy Summer.”
Reactions and Responses
Representatives for André did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the publication of the video. The incident occurred during a public event, and the video has since circulated widely on social media platforms.
The confrontation follows years of public exchanges between the two figures, with Hanks framing the encounter as a resolution to a long-standing feud. The video and accompanying caption suggest Hanks viewed the interaction as a necessary confrontation over past criticisms.