Tom Hanks created an unexpected viral moment during the ceremonial opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago when a brief exchange with a television reporter quickly turned into one of the event’s most talked-about moments.
The Oscar-winning actor’s playful but pointed remark sparked laughter, criticism, and a flood of online reactions, putting the spotlight on a media network’s struggles and Hanks’ trademark wit.
The unexpected exchange unfolded shortly after Tom Hanks arrived at the opening ceremony on Thursday.
MS NOW Senior National and Political Correspondent Jacob Soboroff was livestreaming from the event when he approached the actor in hopes of securing a quick interview.
“Great to see you,” Soboroff said while trying to get Hanks’ attention.
Initially occupied, Hanks eventually turned toward the reporter after some persistence. Rather than answering questions immediately, he opened with a remark that caught everyone off guard.
“What can I do for the 800 people watching MS NOW?” Hanks joked.
The comment appeared to reference the network’s declining television audience and immediately changed the tone of the interaction.
Soboroff responded with a smile and reminded the actor, “Oh, come on. We’re live on MS NOW.”
Tom Hanks And The Reporter Trade Playful Barbs
The exchange didn’t end there. After Soboroff pushed back, Hanks fired off another quip.
“All right – add a zero to it,” he replied in a deadpan manner.
The reporter quickly countered by saying, “I would say millions now that you’re on our air.”
At that point, Hanks appeared ready to move on from the joke.
“All right. All right,” he said before answering questions about the event itself.
The moment lasted only seconds, but it was enough to capture the internet’s attention. Clips of the interaction quickly spread across social media platform X, generating hundreds of thousands of views within hours.
For many viewers, the brief exchange became more memorable than the event where it occurred.
Online Reactions Split Over The Viral Moment
As the clip circulated online, reactions came from every direction.
Some viewers found the actor’s comments hilarious and praised his sense of humor. Others felt the joke crossed a line and criticized the actor for taking a swipe at the network during a live broadcast.
One social media user wrote, “Asking Tom Hanks for a comment these days is like a box of chocolates….you never know what you’re gonna get.”
Not everyone was amused. “Pretty arrogant, Tom. Not a great look,” another commenter posted.
A third critic added, “Hanks was always a whiny, immature and twisted liberal.”
Supporters were equally vocal. “Tom immediately with a banger,” one fan wrote.
Another user commented, “He goofy with those jokes,” while someone else praised the interaction altogether, saying, “The entire interview was awesome.”
The Network Behind The Joke
The joke landed against the backdrop of real challenges facing traditional cable television.
Like many linear television networks, MS NOW has experienced audience declines over the years despite recent efforts to strengthen its position.
According to the Daily Mail, the network currently averages roughly 900,000 viewers, down from averages that exceeded 1.1 million viewers in 2016.
As changing viewing habits and cord-cutting continue reshaping the industry, the network has undergone major changes. It was renamed from MSNBC in November as part of a broader corporate restructuring effort following its separation from Comcast.
Today, the channel operates under Versant, a media company focused primarily on domestic cable properties. Other networks under its portfolio include CNBC, Golf Channel, E!, Syfy, and Oxygen.
Against that backdrop, Hanks’ quip resonated with many viewers already familiar with the changing television landscape.
Tom Hanks Focuses On ‘Toy Story 5’
Away from the viral controversy, Hanks is preparing for another major career milestone.
The actor will return as Woody in “Toy Story 5,” which arrives in theaters on June 19.
Speaking with PEOPLE in New York last month, Hanks expressed enthusiasm about returning to one of Pixar’s most beloved franchises.
“Oh my Lord, all I can say is the saga continues,” he said.
The original “Toy Story” debuted in 1995 and became a global phenomenon, launching one of animation’s most successful franchises. More than three decades later, Hanks remains amazed that the journey is continuing.
“I have seen it. I don’t know how they do it, but it is a vibrant and proper chapter in the Toy Story canon,” he said. “None of us can believe that we’re still a part of it.”
The new film will see Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of the gang facing a modern challenge as technology competes for children’s attention.
Director Andrew Stanton previously explained the central conflict by saying, “In Toy Story 5 the toys’ jobs get exponentially harder when our toy crew goes head to head with what kids are obsessed with today: electronics.”