Hanks Anuku resurfaces with his son and daughter weeks after a viral clip sparked concern, introducing his son as a US basketball player. Fans react.
Two weeks ago, Nigerians watched a video of Hanks Anuku that made hearts sink. The veteran Nollywood actor looked disoriented on an Abuja street, and the clip spread fast, dragging worry with it.
Now he’s back in the spotlight, but this time, the mood is different. A new video shows Anuku out and about with his son and daughter, and he’s introducing his boy to onlookers with visible pride.
In the clip, Anuku tells the crowd his son plays basketball in the United States. He doesn’t mention a team, a school, or a league, just that simple, proud line about his son’s life abroad.
For an actor who built his name on tough-guy roles in the ’90s and 2000s, this softer, fatherly side is striking. It’s the kind of moment that reminds people there’s a whole life behind the headlines.
The timing isn’t lost on anyone. Barely two weeks separate the disturbing street footage from this family outing, and that contrast has fueled plenty of conversation online.
Some Nigerians say they’re simply relieved, glad to see Anuku composed and spending time with his children. Others aren’t so quick to celebrate. A few pointed out that his son didn’t look particularly happy despite the warm occasion, and some questioned the basketball claim altogether, noting nothing about it has been independently verified.
This isn’t new territory for Anuku. Back in 2023, after an earlier viral moment raised similar concerns, he responded the same way, sharing a family photo and crediting his son with helping him find stability again. He even encouraged Nigerians to follow his son’s page at the time.
The actor has spoken before about rumours surrounding his mental health, always denying claims of drug use. Each time concern flares up, family seems to be his answer to the public.
For now, there’s no independent confirmation of the son’s basketball career, just Anuku’s word, caught on someone’s phone camera. But maybe that’s beside the point.
What this moment really captures is a father wanting the world to see his children, and a public still trying to figure out how much to worry and how much to simply let him be.
