Oh, no! Tom Hanks is promoting Orbán’s xenophobe message?

Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks is in Budapest for the shooting of his new movie “Inferno”, a sequel to the blockbuster “The Da Vinci Code.” He loves Budapest and says Mexican food is fabulous in the Hungarian capital.

I know his favorite Mexican restaurant, but I cannot tell you. Hanks values his privacy and I swore to the owner that I would keep the secret.

Recently, Hanks gave a video interview to Ms. Anikó Návai, a well-known Hungarian entertainment journalist: “It is one of the most beautiful city in the world. I am from San Francisco, and San Francisco is the most beautiful city, but Budapest isn’t far behind with that. The mountains on the Buda side, the plain on the Pest side, and the River Danube between the two parts are amazing, especially by night when the whole city is in floodlight. However, the most amazing thing I experienced in Budapest when we were driving back to our hotel early morning from shooting and I saw girls biking on the street, walking hand-in-hand, snigging and giggling. They were talking in the middle of the night out, on the streets. I had the feeling, it is a totally safe city. You cannot experience this in American cites..“

Sounds like innocent chit-chat, isn’t it? Not to pro-Orbán propagandists. They immediately saw the value in the star’s statements and posters appeared – “Tom Hanks has sent a message to Brussels”

Tom Hanks, with the Budapest Chain Bridge in the background, featured on a pro-government propaganda poster.

Tom Hanks, with the Budapest Chain Bridge in the background, featured on a pro-government propaganda poster.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán claims that Budapest is safe because he refuses to let migrants stay or pass though his country. He is protecting pristine Budapest from the Muslim hordes! Migrants would destroy Hungary’s beauty, girls would be attacked and Christianity would diminish – “Every single migrant poses a public security and terror risk” – Orbán thundered.

The posters quote Hanks with his photo. One poster reads on the top: “Tom Hanks said NO to Brussels.” The other poster has the logo of Fidelitas, the youth organization of Fidesz, Mr. Orbán’s ruling party. Pro-Orbán daily, Magyar Idők even published a photo essay from the Hanks interview! (read here)

Tom Hanks featured on a pro-government propaganda poster produced Fidesz's youth wing, Fidelitas.

Tom Hanks featured on a pro-government propaganda poster produced Fidesz’s youth wing, Fidelitas.

“Inferno,” is about the race to stop a madman from unleashing a virus that could wipe out half of the world’s population. It seems that the Hungarian Government has already unleashed the virus of hate and intolerance and Tom Hanks shouldn’t be part of it.

György Lázár

Leave a Reply to Anonymous Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *