Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson at the 15th Governors Awards. (Image via Getty/ Jason Armond)
Recently, a claim emerged online that actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks has pulled out of his Academy Awards nominations and departed the country. It was first shared by the Facebook page SpaceX Fanclub on November 21 as an image post.
“Tom Hanks Withdraws Oscar Nominations and Leaves U.S.: ‘I’ve Had Enough,’” both the caption and the text inside the image read.
The post featured a collage of Tom Hanks and a section of the American political map (in red) and garnered severe traction, including earning 2,100 reactions and 1,200 comments.
However, the now-viral post has turned out to be fake. Nowhere has the Forrest Gump star announced that he has withdrawn his Oscar nominations, nor has he left the country.
Not only that but the Facebook post itself contained more than one indication that the rumor was untrue. On the top left corner, the words, “Rated Satire” could be clearly seen. Likewise, on the opposite end, the disclaimer, “Nothing on this page is real. If you believe anything we post, then you’re a potato crop.”
The 2025 Oscar nominations have also not been released yet and are slated to be announced on January 17, next year.
Tom Hanks has neither left the USA nor withdrawn his Oscar nominations
The now-debunked viral Facebook post by SpaceX Fanclub shared a link to its parent website Esspots in the comment section. Published on Thursday with the same title, the article began:
“Tom Hanks, America’s beloved ‘everyman,’ has officially declared he’s had enough. In a move that has left Hollywood and the nation stunned, the Oscar-winning actor announced he’s dropping all his recent Academy Award nominations and leaving the United States, citing deep disillusionment following Donald Trump’s re-election.”
It further continued:
“‘This isn’t the America I wanted,’ Hanks stated in a teary-eyed Instagram video, sitting on what appeared to be a replica of the bench from ‘Forrest Gump.’ ‘I’ve played heroes, explorers, and even captains, but I can’t captain this sinking ship anymore.’”
However, the Esspots article has also turned out to be fabricated and unfounded, seemingly for satire, as rated right below its headline as well as the website bio. Not only that but Tom Hanks hasn’t uploaded any such Instagram post recently making the above-mentioned statements.
A glimpse of the fake and viral Esspots article about Hanks. (Image via Esspots)
Additionally, the publication went on to allege that Hanks recently gave up the Oscar nominations for the films A Better Tomorrow, A Kind Nation, and The Last Good Man, and called the Academy Awards “meaningless in a country that has lost its way.”
However, the 1980s movie franchise A Better Tomorrow has no connection whatsoever to Tom, nor did it ever earn an Oscar nomination. Likewise, the 2006 short film The Last Good Man did not feature Hanks, and there’s no movie by the title of A Kind Nation. Moreover, the legendary actor has not issued any such comment against the Academy Awards.
“The Academy, blindsided by Hanks’ decision, released a brief statement. ‘Tom Hanks has always been a pillar of integrity in the entertainment industry. While we regret his decision, we respect his stance,’” Esspots claimed.
However, this is also false as the Academy has not officially issued any such statement. The Esspots article further falsely claimed that other Hollywood celebrities such as actress Kerry Washington and filmmaker Steven Spielberg reacted to the rumor, via a tweet and a press release respectively.
The publication’s report that social media users and fans of Tom Hanks also believed the rumor and used hashtags #BringBackTom and #AmericaLostHanks has turned out to be unfounded as well.
Esspots claimed that President-elect Donald Trump commented on Tom Hanks’ alleged exit in a Texas rally by saying:
“Tom Hanks? Overrated. He’s just mad because people voted for me, not his Hollywood friends. Maybe he should stick to playing make-believe. Hanks leaving is the best thing to happen to America since I started The Apprentice. Let him go! Greece can have him.”
Neither has Trump attended any such rally in the aftermath of his re-election nor has he made any such comments regarding The Terminal actor.
Tom Hanks, who has a Greek citizenship alongside his wife Rita Wilson since 2020, has also not permanently relocated to the European country, as claimed by Esspots, nor has he or Rita made any remarks regarding the same in recent times. The 68-year-old California native has also not released any recent statements regarding the future of his career, his intent to relocate, or Oscar nominations, nor has he left a message for his fans.
Notably, Alex Robin, the man behind the Esspots article is also known for his parodical content, often meant for vitality, sensationalism, and entertainment purposes, as evident from the disclaimer, “NOTE: This is SATIRE, It’s Not True,” at the end. Besides, the likes of Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep have also not yet publicly considered leaving the country, as falsely mentioned on the website.
This is not the first time it has been rumored that Tom Hanks has left the USA. Earlier this month, a claim surfaced on TikTok and later circulated on other platforms that the Catch Me If You Can actor departed the country following Trump’s re-election. However, The Direct quickly debunked the rumor.
While the veteran actor has criticized Donald Trump over the years, he has never openly hinted at his desire to permanently leave the USA, unlike other celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Cher, John Legend, and Chrissy Teigen, among others.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson attended the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ 15th annual Governors Awards on November 17, 2024, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood, California, alongside other A-listers such as Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, Andrew Garfield, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Costner, and Sharon Stone, among others.
