Imagine being stranded in a foreign country, unable to return home because of a passport mix-up. That’s exactly what happened to Chet Hanks, the son of Hollywood legend Tom Hanks, who found himself trapped in Colombia after leaving his U.S. passport behind. In a candid Instagram video, the 35-year-old, known for coining the phrase 'White Boy Summer,' shared his unexpected predicament. Here’s how it unfolded: Chet, a dual citizen of Greece and the United States, had traveled to Puerto Rico for a friend’s birthday, bringing only his Greek passport. He explained that his American passport was nearing expiration, and he feared it might cause issues at border control. 'Sometimes they don’t let you in the country, even if it hasn’t expired, but it’s about to expire,' he admitted in the video. Thinking it would be a quick trip, he then flew to Medellin, Colombia, to visit another friend. But here’s where it gets complicated: upon arriving at José María Córdova International Airport for his return flight to the U.S., he was informed that he needed a green card to enter his home country with a foreign passport. And this is the part most people miss: as a U.S. citizen, Chet doesn’t have a green card, and while Greek nationals can typically visit the U.S. for up to 90 days under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), his lack of an American passport left him in a bureaucratic bind. 'I literally have no f---ing idea what I’m gonna do,' he confessed, adding that the only solution seemed to involve a trip to the embassy in Bogotá—a detour he was eager to avoid. 'Free me,' he pleaded. Naturally, the comments on his post were flooded with Cast Away jokes, referencing his father’s iconic film about being stranded. Some suggested he pull the 'nepo baby' card to expedite his return, while others advised getting his U.S. passport flown to Colombia. This isn’t Chet’s first time in the spotlight; his antics have previously landed him in hot water, most notably with his 2021 declaration of 'White Boy Summer,' which unintentionally sparked a white supremacist meme. In 2024, he clarified his intentions, stating, 'White boy summer was created to be fun, playful, and a celebration of fly white boys who love beautiful queens of every race. Anything else that it has been twisted into to support any kind of hate or bigotry is deplorable and I condemn it.' But here’s the controversial question: Is Chet’s predicament a simple oversight, or does it highlight a larger issue with travel regulations and dual citizenship? And should celebrities like him face more scrutiny for their actions, or do they deserve the same grace as anyone else? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
