Is it true that Tom Hanks bought a Russian “loaf”?

A few years ago, Russian TV channels and websites trumpeted that Hollywood actor Tom Hanks bought himself a Russian car - the famous UAZ-452 (popularly simply “loaf”). We checked whether he made such a purchase.

The story appeared back in 2017, or more precisely, on March 11. On that day, many Russian media wrote that Hanks boasted on his social networks about purchasing a new car produced by the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant. It was reported that the actor is very happy with the car and even goes camping in it.

For example, similar headlines and stories can be found on TV channel websites "Star", "Moscow 24", "NTV", "Channel Five", TV shows "News", radio stations "Lighthouse", as well as publications "Gazeta.ru" And "Arguments and Facts". The journalists of the Tsargrad-TV channel went the furthest: they have material came out under the headline “Subscribers caught Tom Hanks lying in the “loaf” story.” But did the actor deceive anyone?

So, on March 11, 2017, Hanks actually posted a photo on his Twitter and Instagram in which he allegedly opened a UAZ-452. The caption on those posts reads: “I have a new truck! I'm going on a hike! Hanks." At the same time, Hungarian license plates and the logo of a Budapest company are visible on the car. Babindeli, which produces women's clothing. Quite strange for a car owned by an actor.

I got a new truck! I'm going camping! Hanx. pic.twitter.com/wUXPtyZcQm

— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) March 11, 2017

It is worth noting that Hanks is famous for his sense of humor, which can be seen in his accounts on social networks. So, he has a couple of unusual “hobbies”:

• 1) he takes photographs of lost things with funny captions (most often this gloves, socks or shoes);
• 2) he posts photos in which he allegedly opens rare cars.

At the same time, the caption for posts with cars is always something like this: “I bought a new car. Hanks." And in one of the pictures he actually “opens” the crumpled body of the car. “I bought a used car. Hanks," wrote actor.

Hanks posted the first such photo on Instagram in August 2015. And many cars have Hungarian license plates precisely because in the summer of that year the actor filmed in Hungary in the film "Inferno" (Inferno, 2016) - the third part of the franchise about the adventures of Professor Robert Langdon, the main character of Dan Brown's novels. Also reported, that at the beginning of 2016 Tom returned to Budapest for additional filming.

By the way, some photographs from this “car” series show a Polish-made Fiat 126. In Poland, this was taken as a hint, so Monika Jaskulska, a resident of the city of Bielsko-Biala, where the car was produced since the 1970s, - started fundraising campaign to give Hanks personal Fiat 126. Sponsors helped both restore and transport cars in the USA. In December 2017, Hanks solemnly received his gift, and also took part in a charity event for a Polish children's hospital.

Thus, we do not have exact confirmation that Hanks did not buy a UAZ-452, but there are serious doubts that he bought a dozen cars in Hungary. The actor, it seems, simply posted a comic photo, which the Russian media took too seriously.

Image: @tomhanks (Twitter)

Most likely not true

What do our verdicts mean?

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