“You got a friend in me”: Tom Hanks writes beautiful letter to bullied boy named Corona

Tom Hanks replies to his biggest fan, who’s being bullied, with words of wisdom and a very special gift

Tom Hanks sent the sweetest gift to an eight-year-old fan that reached out to him through a letter.

The Australian boy, named Corona De Vries, wrote to Hanks to ask if him and his wife, Rita Wilson, are recovering alright.

The acting duo contracted the virus while abroad in Queensland last month and were hospitalised there before returning home.  

Corona went on to say that he has been struggling; other kids have been bullying him about his name. 

“I love my name but at school people call me the coronavirus,” he wrote. “I get very sad and angry when people call me this.”

Tom Hanks quickly responded, like the legend he is, to reassure Corona and lift his spirit.

“Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful,” Hanks wrote.

“Thank you for being such a good friend. Friends make their friends feel good when they are down.” He went on to praise the boy’s name and tell him just how special it is.

“You are the only person I’ve ever known to have the name Corona — like the ring around the sun, a crown.”

The iconic actor also included a gift with the letter, a classic, Corona-brand typewriter that he had used during his stay on the Gold Coast.

“I thought this typewriter would suit you,” Hanks said. “I had taken it to the Gold Coast, and now, it is back — with you. Ask a grown up how it works. And use it to write me back.

“PS! You got a friend in ME!”

What a sweet gesture from Hanks! It is a rare thing to hear back from one’s idol and even rarer still to receive a heartfelt gift from them too.

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