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Tom Hanks writes to boy called Corona who said he was bullied | |
(32 minutes later) | |
US actor Tom Hanks has written a letter and sent a Corona-brand typewriter gift to an Australian boy who said he was bullied because of his name - Corona. | |
Corona De Vries, 8, first wrote to the Toy Story actor and his wife Rita Wilson after they fell sick with the virus in Queensland. | |
"I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus," the boy wrote. "Are you OK?" | "I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus," the boy wrote. "Are you OK?" |
He added that he loved his name but was being called "coronavirus" at school. | He added that he loved his name but was being called "coronavirus" at school. |
"I get very sad and angry when people call me this," he wrote. | "I get very sad and angry when people call me this," he wrote. |
In response, Hanks replied with a letter that began: "Dear Friend Corona". | In response, Hanks replied with a letter that began: "Dear Friend Corona". |
"Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful! Thank you for being such a good friend - friends make friends feel good when they are down." | |
Hanks and Wilson are both back in the US after spending about three weeks recovering from the virus on the Gold Coast in March. | Hanks and Wilson are both back in the US after spending about three weeks recovering from the virus on the Gold Coast in March. |
The Oscar-winning actor told the boy: "You are the only person I've ever known to have the name Corona - like the ring around the sun, a crown." | The Oscar-winning actor told the boy: "You are the only person I've ever known to have the name Corona - like the ring around the sun, a crown." |
He also sent a Corona-brand typewriter, which he had used during his quarantine in the city. | He also sent a Corona-brand typewriter, which he had used during his quarantine in the city. |
"I thought this typewriter would suit you," he 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." | "I thought this typewriter would suit you," he 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." |
The De Vries family told Australian media outlet Nine News , who helped Corona convey his letter to Tom Hanks, that the boy was excited to get a "new friend in the US". | The De Vries family told Australian media outlet Nine News , who helped Corona convey his letter to Tom Hanks, that the boy was excited to get a "new friend in the US". |
Corona reached out to Hanks because of his role as Woody in the Toy Story films, his family said. | Corona reached out to Hanks because of his role as Woody in the Toy Story films, his family said. |
Hanks had hand-written at the end of the letter: "PS! You got a friend in ME!" - a reference to the popular film's theme song. | Hanks had hand-written at the end of the letter: "PS! You got a friend in ME!" - a reference to the popular film's theme song. |
Last month, the Hollywood couple travelled to Australia where Wilson gave a series of concerts and Hanks started filming an Elvis Presley biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann. | Last month, the Hollywood couple travelled to Australia where Wilson gave a series of concerts and Hanks started filming an Elvis Presley biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann. |
It's thought the couple may have contracted the virus in the US or while travelling to Australia. | It's thought the couple may have contracted the virus in the US or while travelling to Australia. |
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