Tom Hanks Clarifies Controversial Comment

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Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Movies, Television, Rumors

During last week’s premiere of the HBO series Big Love, Tom Hanks had a few choice words for the Mormons of the world.

Hanks is one of the executive producers of Big Love, a scripted series which showcases a family of polygamists (who are also Mormon). TLC did the same thing, only theirs was a reality show - and never quite managed the success HBO’s project has found.

While at the premiere of the new season, Hands spoke out against “Prop-8,” which is properly called Proposition 8. This law was proposed in California - and passed - to ban same-sex marriage. The passing of the law stunned much of Hollywood, and many stars have spoken out against Prop-8 as a result. Even though the deal is done, they’re still talking. And so’s Hanks.

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“The truth is, a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” Hanks stated during the event. “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them.”

Well, you can imagine how well that went over with the Mormons. Kim Farah, speaking for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, fired back on the most conservative network she could find: FOX News. “Expressing an opinion in a free and democratic society is as American as it gets,” she coldly pointed out (and seventeen girls watching went, “oooooh, snap!”).

Hanks responded with this classy statement: “Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California’s Proposition 8 as ‘un-American.’ I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination. But, everyone has a right to vote their conscience - nothing could be more American. To say members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who contributed to Proposition 8 are ‘un-American’ creates more division when the time calls for respectful disagreement. No one should use ‘un-American’ lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have. Sincerely, Tom Hanks.”

Good save.

Proposition 8, by the way, was passed into California law November 4, 2008. It was put into effect on November 5, 2008. This laws states quite clearly that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The law, however, does not nullify domestic partnerships.