(CNN) – Chester Hanks, son of actor Tom Hanks and actress Rita Wilson, is under fire for a series of Instagram posts in which he defends his use of the n-word.
The aspiring rapper, who also goes by the name Chet Haze, says he uses the racially charged word among his friends as part of his right to free speech.
“Hip-hop isn’t about race. It’s about the culture you identify with,” Hanks said, adding that most people do not understand his position. In another video, he said the n-word is “an unspoken thing between people who are friends, who understand each other.”
Hanks’ Instagram account has been taken down, although others have posted screenshots of his comments.