{"id":353199,"date":"2026-06-19T10:45:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T05:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=353199"},"modified":"2026-06-19T10:45:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T05:15:52","slug":"tom-hanks-viral-ms-now-dig-sparks-backlash-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/19\/tom-hanks-viral-ms-now-dig-sparks-backlash-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Hanks&#8217; Viral MS NOW Dig Sparks Backlash Online"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Tom Hanks<\/strong> created an unexpected viral moment throughout the ceremonial opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago when a temporary exchange with a television reporter quickly became certainly one of the event\u2019s most talked-about moments.<\/p>\n<p>The Oscar-winning actor\u2019s playful but pointed remark sparked laughter, criticism, and a flood of online reactions, putting the highlight on a media network\u2019s struggles and Hanks\u2019 trademark wit.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"><\/figure>\n<p>The unexpected exchange unfolded shortly after Tom Hanks arrived on the opening ceremony on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>MS NOW Senior National and Political Correspondent Jacob Soboroff was livestreaming from the event when he approached the actor in hopes of securing a fast interview.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGreat to see you,\u201d Soboroff said while attempting to get Hanks\u2019 attention.<\/p>\n<p>Initially occupied, Hanks eventually turned toward the reporter after some persistence. Slightly than answering questions immediately, he opened with a remark that caught everyone off guard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat can I do for the 800 people watching MS NOW?\u201d Hanks joked.<\/p>\n<p>The comment appeared to reference the network\u2019s declining television audience and immediately modified the tone of the interaction.<\/p>\n<p>Soboroff responded with a smile and reminded the actor, \u201cOh, come on. We\u2019re continue to exist MS NOW.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tom-hanks-and-the-reporter-trade-playful-barbs\">Tom Hanks And The Reporter Trade Playful Barbs<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">MEGA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The exchange didn\u2019t end there.\u00a0After Soboroff pushed back, Hanks fired off one other quip.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll right \u2013 add a zero to it,\u201d he replied in a deadpan manner.<\/p>\n<p>The reporter quickly countered by saying, \u201cI might say tens of millions now that you just\u2019re on our air.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At that time, Hanks appeared able to move on from the joke.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll right. All right,\u201d he said before answering questions on the event itself.<\/p>\n<p>The moment lasted only seconds, nevertheless it was enough to capture the web\u2019s attention. Clips of the interaction quickly spread across social media platform X, generating tons of of 1000&#8217;s of views inside hours.<\/p>\n<p>For a lot of viewers, the temporary exchange became more memorable than the event where it occurred.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-online-reactions-split-over-the-viral-moment\">Online Reactions Split Over The Viral Moment<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=525,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tom-hanks-1-768x525.jpg\" alt=\"Tom Hanks at AFI Fest 2024\" class=\"wp-image-640966\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1536,height=1051,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tom-hanks-1-1536x1051.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1024,height=700,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tom-hanks-1-1024x700.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=525,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tom-hanks-1-768x525.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=300,height=205,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tom-hanks-1-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=428,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tom-hanks-1-scaled.jpg 428w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 430px) 100px, 100vw\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">MEGA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Because the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Acyn\/status\/2067688016265748480\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">clip<\/a> circulated online, reactions got here from every direction.<\/p>\n<p>Some viewers found the actor\u2019s comments hilarious and praised his humorousness. Others felt the joke crossed a line and criticized the actor for taking a swipe on the network during a live broadcast.<\/p>\n<p>One social media user wrote, \u201cAsking Tom Hanks for a comment today is sort of a box of chocolates\u2026.you never know what you\u2019re gonna get.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not everyone was amused.\u00a0\u201cPretty smug, Tom. Not a fantastic look,\u201d one other commenter posted.<\/p>\n<p>A 3rd critic added, \u201cHanks was at all times a whiny, immature and twisted liberal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Supporters were equally vocal.\u00a0\u201cTom immediately with a banger,\u201d one fan wrote.<\/p>\n<p>One other user commented, \u201cHe goofy with those jokes,\u201d while another person praised the interaction altogether, saying, \u201cAll the interview was awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-network-behind-the-joke\">The Network Behind The Joke<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DQpVfm6khC3\/?utm_source=ig_embed&#038;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><\/blockquote>\n<p>The joke landed against the backdrop of real challenges facing traditional cable television.<\/p>\n<p>Like many linear television networks, MS NOW has experienced audience declines over time despite recent efforts to strengthen its position.<\/p>\n<p>In keeping with the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/media\/article-15912255\/tom-hanks-ms-joke-viewers-800-shot.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">Each day Mail<\/a>, <\/em>the network currently averages roughly 900,000 viewers, down from averages that exceeded 1.1 million viewers in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>As changing viewing habits and cord-cutting proceed reshaping the industry, the network has undergone major changes. It was renamed from MSNBC in November as a part of a broader corporate restructuring effort following its separation from Comcast.<\/p>\n<p>Today, the channel operates under Versant, a media company focused totally on domestic cable properties. Other networks under its portfolio include CNBC, Golf Channel, E!, Syfy, and Oxygen.<\/p>\n<p>Against that backdrop, Hanks\u2019 quip resonated with many viewers already conversant in the changing television landscape.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tom-hanks-focuses-on-toy-story-5\">Tom Hanks Focuses On \u2018Toy Story 5\u2019<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Toy Story 5 | Official Trailer | In Theaters June 19\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/c51ND9Hdbw0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Away from the viral controversy, Hanks is preparing for one more major profession milestone.<\/p>\n<p>The actor will return as Woody in \u201cToy Story 5,\u201d which arrives in theaters on June 19.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking with <em><a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tom-hanks-cant-believe-hes-still-part-of-toy-story-exclusive-11978452\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">PEOPLE<\/a><\/em> in Latest York last month, Hanks expressed enthusiasm about returning to certainly one of Pixar\u2019s most beloved franchises.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh my Lord, all I can say is the saga continues,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The unique \u201cToy Story\u201d debuted in 1995 and have become a world phenomenon, launching certainly one of animation\u2019s most successful franchises. Greater than three many years later, Hanks stays amazed that the journey is continuous.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI actually have seen it. I don\u2019t know the way they do it, nevertheless it is a vibrant and proper chapter within the Toy Story canon,\u201d he said. \u201cNone of us can imagine that we\u2019re still an element of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The brand new film will see Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the remainder of the gang facing a contemporary challenge as technology competes for youngsters\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n<p>Director Andrew Stanton previously explained the central conflict by saying, \u201cIn Toy Story 5 the toys\u2019 jobs get exponentially harder when our toy crew goes face to face with what kids are obsessive about today: electronics.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tom Hanks created an unexpected viral moment throughout the ceremonial opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago when a temporary exchange with a television reporter quickly became certainly one of the event\u2019s most talked-about moments. The Oscar-winning actor\u2019s playful but pointed remark sparked laughter, criticism, and a flood of online reactions, putting the highlight [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":353200,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20669],"tags":[3780,9480,4317,854,3022,4740,2140],"class_list":["post-353199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hollywood","tag-backlash","tag-dig","tag-hanks","tag-online","tag-sparks","tag-tom","tag-viral"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353199"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":353202,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353199\/revisions\/353202"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/353200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}