Key Takeaways
- A recent tweet falsely alleged that authorities arrested Tom Hanks on 135 counts of child exploitation, sparking online discussions.
- In July 2020, rumors falsely claimed that Hanks was arrested in Australia for p*dophilia.
- All accusations against Hanks remain entirely baseless and unsupported by credible sources.
Tom Hanks, the talented actor renowned for his roles in films like “Forrest Gump” and “Saving Private Ryan,” has once again become the subject of unfounded rumors alleging his arrest and involvement in child exploitation as of December 2024.
Recently, a sensational tweet on X (formerly Twitter) claimed:
🚨 #BREAKING: “TOM HANKS ARRESTED ON 135 COUNTS OF CHILD P*RN POSSESSION"
— HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) December 4, 2024
⚠️BBC NEWS website publishes the story of Tom Hanks arrest and within a matter of minutes, it was taken down and scrubbed from the internet.
What the hell is going on? pic.twitter.com/8Uu5COCLbZ
This post quickly sparked online discussions and speculations, with some users quickly debunking it.
One user dismissed it, saying:
This is old news… came out years ago. Think it’s to wake up the sleepers;)
Via X
Another user added to the speculation with a cryptic comment:
he’s been a clone for a very long time.
Via X
A third user pointed out the falsehood, writing:
Over two years ago this was proven fake
Via X
Despite the resurfacing of this sensational claim, no credible evidence or reliable news outlet has confirmed the allegations.
The claim that the BBC published and then removed a post about Tom Hanks’ arrest either reflects a deliberate ploy to promote misinformation once again or stems from a digitally fabricated glitch.
In reality, Tom Hanks has never faced any charges or arrests related to such allegations.
Similar rumors have circulated in the past, often tied to conspiracy theories and hoaxes that lack any basis in fact.
It’s crucial to rely on verified information from credible sources rather than sensational social media posts or unverified screenshots.
As of now, Tom Hanks remains uninvolved in any such activities, and the rumors are entirely baseless.
In July 2020, social media users claimed that authorities had arrested Tom Hanks in Australia for p*dophilia.
The photos circulating online showed Hanks covering his face with a green bandana and standing beside his car.
Some images focused on his rolled-up trouser leg with red circles around his ankle, suggesting he was wearing an ankle monitor.
The claims alleged that Hanks’ announcement of testing positive for COVID-19 and going into quarantine was a cover-up for his time in custody.
However, these accusations were found to be entirely false.
A reverse image search traced the photos back to a Daily Mail report from May 2020, showing Hanks in Los Angeles taking precautions against COVID-19.
The claim of a supposed “ankle monitor” misinterpreted rolled-up trousers, and no evidence supported the presence of monitoring devices.
Additionally, no credible reports support the claim of Hanks being arrested; had it been true, it would have received significant media coverage.
Similarly, in 2021, a fabricated BBC News headline falsely claimed that Tom Hanks had been arrested on 135 counts of child p*rnography possession.
This screenshot, which circulated widely on social media, was digitally manipulated.
Fact-checking organizations, including Snopes and Reuters, debunked the image, confirming that BBC News never published such a story.
Elements of the fake screenshot were found to have been lifted from legitimate BBC pages and altered to fit the false narrative.
In subsequent years, rumors reappeared, with the same BBC news article about Hanks’ alleged arrest circulating on X in 2022 and 2023.
Nothing going on here folks nothing to say keep moving…😝 pic.twitter.com/vUyX5XuHZO
— 0️⃣BlackBetty ⚓️ (@BabyD1111229) December 12, 2023
These baseless allegations are part of QAnon conspiracy theories, which have long targeted Hanks and other public figures with unfounded accusations of p*dophilia.
One widely circulated QAnon-related claim falsely suggested that Hanks obtained Greek citizenship in 2021 because Greece supposedly classifies child abuse as a disability.
Fact-checkers thoroughly debunked this claim. No legitimate evidence or reports have ever linked Hanks to such allegations.
As of now, all accusations against Tom Hanks remain entirely baseless, and no credible sources support them.
The persistence of such rumors highlights the dangers of misinformation and the importance of verifying facts before believing or sharing sensational stories.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Tom Hanks was born to parents Janet Marylyn and Amos Hanks on July 9, 1956, in Concord, California.
- He interned at the Great Lakes Theater Festival, gaining experience in theater production, stage lighting, and management.
- He married Samantha Lewes in 1978, but they divorced in 1987; he then married his second and current wife, Rita Wilson, in 1988.
