Chet Hanks Roasted For Bizarre ‘Forrest Gump’ Rap Video Featuring Tom Hanks
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on March 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM EDT
Chet Hanks is back in the spotlight, and this time, he's taking a seat on a very familiar bench.
The "Running Point" actor dropped a new music video for “You Better Run” on Friday, featuring his country duo Something Out West.
But what really got people talking wasn’t just the song, it was the eyebrow-raising recreation of "Forrest Gump" scenes and a surprise cameo from Chet Hanks' father, Tom Hanks.
Chet Hanks Dresses As Forrest Gump And Sings To Tom
The three-minute video features Chet donning the iconic beige suit and tie while sitting on a bench offering chocolates, an unmistakable nod to the Oscar-winning 1994 classic that made his father a household name.
As the video progresses, Tom himself appears, sitting beside his son and offering a puzzled glance that didn’t go unnoticed by viewers.
Chet amps up the antics as he sings directly to his father, inching closer in an exaggerated fashion while Tom maintains a disapproving glare. The tribute, or parody, depending on who you ask, continues with Chet recreating the cross-country running scene, complete with a red cap, fake beard, and matching jacket.
Chet Roasted For ‘Cringe’ 'Forrest Gump' Parody
Drew Arthur, Chet’s bandmate and longtime friend, joins in on vocals and appears throughout the video. The two are even seen on a boat, which fans speculated could be a nod to the film’s shrimping vessel.
Online reactions came fast, and they were far from unanimous.
“Even his dad is cringing at the whole thing,” one YouTube commenter wrote, echoing the sentiments of many who labeled the video “cringe.”
Another added, “Chet never ceases to be a source of top quality cringe. Poor Tom.”
And, in a jab at Hollywood nepotism, one viewer chimed in, “Some of nepotism at it's finest! I love seeing nepotism babies doing their own things!”
Fans Praise Chet Hanks’ Country Collab With Tom
But not everyone was critical. Some fans praised the video, calling it a touching collaboration between father and son.
“Seeing you and your father together for this video is such a beautiful sight,” one user wrote.
"I love this!!!!" another expressed. "I love the song and I love the video. Shout out to Dad Tom Hanks for helping and supporting. Saved to favorite list."
A third chimed in, "I'm not a country girl, but to me it sounds just as good or better than most of the country songs on the radio...The video is definitely awesome! Good on them."
Meanwhile, one YouTuber admitted, "This is much better than I expected."
And mom Rita Wilson showed her support, commenting, “You better run and download this song!!”
Chet And Drew Turn Sobriety Into Sound With Major Label Music Debut
Chet and Drew’s friendship dates back to their mutual commitment to sobriety.
Earlier this month, Chet shared on "The Drew Barrymore Show" that he’s “three and a half years sober.” Their musical journey also reached a major milestone in February when Something Out West signed with Big Machine Records, the same Nashville label that once represented Taylor Swift and currently represents artists like Tim McGraw and Carly Pearce.
“We've just been waiting a long time to just release the music because we recorded it a long time ago,” Chet told Entertainment Tonight. “And we didn't have any team behind us, no manager, no label, nothing.” He added that their debut single “Leaving Hollywood,” released in February, “deserved a proper rollout.” Drew co-wrote the track’s lyrics.
In an interview with Esquire, Chet described his creative pursuits.
“Ultimately, I consider myself an artist, and acting and music are just two different mediums for being able to express myself. I'm in a group called Something Out West with my homeboy Drew Arthur. We recently signed a record deal, and we're actually putting out our first single the day after the show ['Running Point'] comes out.”
He added, “I've been working on this music for a long time, and so I would like to be touring and finally letting the world hear it.”
Chet Hanks Scores Big In Netflix’s 'Running Point'
Alongside music, Chet has also stepped into a new role in Netflix’s sports comedy "Running Point," which premiered on February 27 and has already been renewed for a second season. The show stars Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Justin Theroux, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, and Max Greenfield.
Chet plays Travis Bugg, a professional basketball player, and prepared for the role with extensive training.
“I hired a private basketball coach and added that on top of my training regimen,” he told Men’s Health. “He just ran me through all the basic stuff, like drills that any athlete who plays basketball would be familiar with.”
