TOM Hanks is one of the best-loved stars in Hollywood, so rumors of his death are sure to spread.
A bizarre hoax has sent “Tom Hanks dead” viral online, but he is alive and well. Here’s how it unfolded.
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Why is ‘Tom Hanks dead’ trending?
Appearing on The Adam Buxton Podcast, Tom Hanks discussed the possibility that AI may allow him to continue his Hollywood career after he dies.
He said: “There is discussions going on in all of the guilds, all of the agencies, and all of the legal firms in order to come up with the legal ramifications of my face and my voice and everybody else’s being our intellectual property.
“If I wanted to, I could get together and pitch a series of seven movies that would star me in them in which I would be 32 years old from now until kingdom come.
“Anybody can now recreate themselves at any age they are by way of AI or deep fake technology.
“I could be hit by a bus tomorrow and that’s it, but performances can go on and on and on and on.”
Hanks’ comments, made on the May 16 2023 episode of the podcast, sent “Tom Hanks dead” viral on social media – even though he was spotted chatting with fans at a book signing on the same day.
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When did ‘Tom Hanks dead’ start trending?
Tom Hanks has previously been the victim of a ghoulish death hoax on social media.
When Hanks caught covid-19 early on in the pandemic in March 2020, an Indian website published a post titled “Breaking: Coronavirus claims life of Tom Hanks”.
The hoax did the rounds again on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok after Hanks’s comments about AI – but remains entirely false.
Other celebrities who have been subjected to death hoaxes include Simon Cowell, JoJo Siwa, Steve Harvey and George Soros.
What have people said about ‘Tom Hanks dead’ trending?
People were divided over Hank’s prediction that AI could prolong his acting career beyond his death.
Erin said: “Imagine auditioning for a role and then missing out to AI Tom Hanks.”
Hollie said: “It would make the Oscars more interesting.”
Brad said: “What if it was AI Tom Hanks speaking on the podcast?”
It’s not unheard of for an actor to appear in a film posthumously through deepfake technology – be it Paul Walker in Fast & Furious 7, Oliver Reed in Gladiator, Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker or Audrey Hepburn in an advert for Galaxy bars.
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