Chet Hanks Condemns Hate Groups' Use of 'White Boy Summer' Phrase: 'Spread Love to Each Other'
The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism released a report detailing how extremist groups have co-opted Chet Hanks' 'White Boy Summer' phrase on July 2
Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic
Chet Hanks on Jan. 10, 2024Chet Hanks is clearing up some intentions behind "White Boy Summer."
On Wednesday, July 3, Hanks — the son of actors Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks — took to Instagram to insist that the phrase he coined in 2021, as well as the accompanying song he released with the same title, was not meant to be co-opted by extremist and white supremacist political groups.
While Chet, 33, did not specify exactly why he was making the statement, it came one day after the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) published a report on Tuesday, July 2, showcasing how hate groups across the world have used the phrase in recent years.
"White boy summer was created to be fun, playful, and a celebration of fly white boys who love beautiful queens of every race," Chet wrote in his caption Wednesday. "Anything else that it has been twisted into to support any kind of hate or bigotry against any group of people is deplorable and I condemn it."
"I hope that we all can spread love to each other and treat each other with kindness and dignity," he added.
Related: Chet Hanks Explains Drake and Kendrick Lamar Beef to Dad Tom Hanks: 'Holy Cow!'
Chet first announced the phrase "White Boy Summer" in March 2021, seemingly as a play on the phrase "Hot Girl Summer," from Megan Thee Stallion's 2019 song of the same title. He has consistently battled suggestions that the phrase would be taken on by white supremacist groups ever since, noting back in 2021 in since-deleted Instagram posts that he was "not talking about Trump, Nascar-type white," per The Hollywood Reporter.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The rapper and actor brought the phrase back in a May 20 Instagram post, writing alongside a car selfie, "I have consulted with the heavens, felt a westward breeze, and walked outside of a strip club and saw my shadow… this will be a #WBS #iHaveSpoken ⛪️."
The GPAHE's recent report tracks how political extremist groups like the Proud Boys, Turning Point USA and others across the world have used the phrase consistently over the years and increasingly at events throughout 2024.
"This underscores the profound social responsibility that public figures bear in their words and actions," GPAHE wrote in an update to its report shared on July 3, after acknowledging Hanks' statement that the phrase "was never intended for hateful actions."
"The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism emphasizes the need for those with powerful platforms to remain vigilant against irresponsible statements that can be used for tools of hate and division," the organization wrote in a statement.
In addition to Chet's July 3 statement, he also shared a message to his Instagram Stories asking The New York Times to "please give as much attention to the true meaning of White Boy Summer as you do the aberration of it."
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
