These Celebrities Are Hitting Back Against Being Labeled A ‘Nepo Baby’—Here’s Why Critics Say They’ve Missed The Point
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After Vulture and New York Magazine this week published a comprehensive guide to Hollywood’s universe of “Nepo babies” — celebrities with famous parents or siblings who have benefited from their family connections — some stars are speaking out against the story and the term , which has gained popularity on social media this year.
Lily Allen attends the 2022 Met Gala celebrating ‘In America: An Anthology of Fashion’ at The … [+]
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O’Shea Jackson Jr. – who played his father, rapper and actor Ice Cube in the film Straight Outta Compton – tweeted that he “had to get my ass up and make it work” to earn the part, saying: “Once the door opened, it was up to me to go through and thrive.”
Model Lottie Moss, sister of supermodel Kate Moss, said she’s “so sick of people blaming nepotism for why they’re not rich and famous or successful,” although she acknowledges that “people from famous families are rising up.”
Singer Lily Allen, the daughter of a producer and actor, tweeted: “The Nepo babies you should be worried about are those who work for law firms, those who work for banks and those who work in politics. “
Actress Eve Houston, daughter of singer Bono, joked she was “actually pretty devastated that I’m not in the Nepo Baby article, how didn’t you see my hit show Bad Sisters” – before finding out that she was included in the play.
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Though the concept of nepotism isn’t new to Hollywood and other industries, the term “Nepo baby” gained popularity on TikTok earlier this year when users debated and discovered that some of their favorite stars had family connections. The hashtag #nepobaby has over 117 million views on the app. Just days after its release, New York Magazine’s stories were among the publication’s most-read articles of 2022. The story and its guide have included everyone from Hollywood royalty and A-listers like Laura Dern and Robert Downey Jr. to newcomers like Michael Gandolfini and Margaret Qualley.
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As the phrase grew in popularity, some “Nepo Baby” stars were asked to respond in interviews for their claim to fame. Emily In Paris star Lily Collins, daughter of singer Phil Collins, told Vogue France last month: “There was no question that people would think I was using a free pass thanks to my name. I’m proud of my father, but I wanted to be me, not just his daughter. For that, I was willing to wait for the breakthrough.” Actress Maude Apatow, daughter of actress Leslie Mann and director Judd Apatow, said in September she was “sad” to be called the “Nepo baby.” “Of course I understand that I am in such a fortunate position. Many people [in a similar position] have stood the test of time over the years so I have to keep going and do a good job,” she said. Model and actress Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of Johnny Depp and model Vanessa Paradis, faced backlash from the fashion world and beyond last month when she said: “If someone’s mom or dad is a doctor and then the kid becomes a doctor, then you ‘I’m not going to say, ‘Well, you’re only a doctor because your parents are doctors.’ It’s like, ‘No, I went to medical school and got an education.’” Among those who hit her back was Ireland Baldwin, daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. “I wouldn’t be where I am, I wouldn’t have gotten where I am and I couldn’t have done what I can do if it wasn’t for my parents,” said the younger Baldwin. “I think really what you’re doing wrong is denying that.”
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Some readers have called the stars’ reaction to the play unmusical, failing to recognize the true weight that connections carry in an industry as subjective as acting and singing. Others have called for similar charts to be created in other industries where connections carry such weight in creating opportunity, such as: B. in journalism.
Continue reading
How a nepo baby is born (vulture)
A Far From Definitive Guide to Hollywood Nepo-Verse (Vulture)
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