Tom Hanks, the man otherwise known as “America’s Dad,” was denied beer at this year’s Stagecoach Festival in California. Yes, that’s right. The 62-year-old actor wasn’t allowed to buy a beer while watching singer and songwriter Rita Wilson (who just so happens to be his wife) perform at this year’s acclaimed country music festival. As Hanks explained to host Ellen DeGeneres while recalling the episode on Wednesday’s The Ellen Show, however, he’s not mad. If anything, he’s impressed the bartenders didn’t “cave” to his demands.
As noted by People, Hanks told DeGeneres he “wanted to have a beer,” but when he “went to the place where you get the beer from,” things didn’t work out as smoothly as he would have hoped:
“There were four ladies who were serving up and I stood up and I said, ‘Pull me a draw!’ And they said, ‘We can’t because your ID has not been verified.’ And I said, ‘Okay, I’m so confused because it says ‘Beer For Sale Here’ and I’ve come to ask for a beer, and you’re not going to give [me] one because you think I’m underage?'”
Hanks had a massive beard at the time and used this to try and indicate his age, but to no avail:
“I said ‘I’m 62 years old and you know my name, so I think I should be able to get a beer.’ They said, ‘No, you have to go. Somewhere over there is a stand where you give them your ID and you verify that you’re old enough to have a beer.'”
As admittedly “ridiculous” as the situation was, however, Hanks said he had to “give credit to these ladies” since “they did not cave.” They especially stood their ground when the actor tried offering them Toy Story 4 tickets. “I said, ‘You will come to the Toy Story premiere with me! Just go like that with a red solo cup underneath and let me walk away with a beer!’ And they would not allow it.”
Of course, Hanks flirts with the line between silliness and entitlement throughout his recollection of the story, but the man is 62 years old. I mean, he’s playing Mister Rogers in an upcoming biopic about the beloved children’s television show host. Would you deny Mister Rogers a beer?
(Via People)
