Nepo Baby Crash-Course
There is a certain unspoken rule in Hollywood when an individual is looking to break into the industry, and it is usually followed by this question: Who are your parents?
It’s no secret that the entertainment industry is built upon some of the most exclusive circles of actors, directors, composers, and more. It is also painfully obvious that almost anyone would leap at the chance to become a worldwide celebrity and cash in on millions of dollars, especially if they had the opportunity to take the express train straight to stardom. Celebrity nepotism—which is likely the most coveted form of nepotism that the world can offer anyone—is a powerful financial and social gold mine. Nepo babies have the world at their silver-spooned fingertips.
1223334444.4444333221 via Instagram
The joke about nepotism in the entertainment industry is that if you’re the child of a celebrity (or celebrities), you’re likely on track to record your first studio EP at 18 years old or be cast into the next season of a hit Netflix original. There’s no promise about whether or not you’ll appreciate the music, films, or other creative endeavors that a nepo baby has to offer, but one thing is guaranteed: A nepo baby can be absolutely adored or become one of the most-hated figures in Hollywood. Why? Jealousy, envy, simmering feelings of unfairness and injustice…
Folks Love to Drink Hater-ade
It’s fun to hate outside of the club when you can’t really get in, so it makes sense that social media users beat down on the ever-growing nepo baby presence online. The last thing users want to hear is another industry-planted pop star sing about how she’s just a “normal girl.” Some believe it’s refreshing to see stars show some semblance of realness in an ocean of online content that is tone-deaf and out of touch. Others, however, think the entire point of celebrity culture is to differentiate “us” and “them.”
At the end of the day, they are performers, right? Well, a lot of social media users believe that this out-of-touchness surpasses the everyday musings of a teen who grew up in a gated community, and becomes sloppy copy-and-paste content that is polluting an industry that should be reserved for self-made, talented artists.
sweetlilyponds via TikTok
In an idyllic paradise, we would collectively make the right people famous through the power of our own content consumption. Instead of having mommy pull some strings with Island Records and getting an uncle to text Jack Antonoff for a “favor,” we’d have art that the brunt of the population assigns actual meaning to. This isn’t to say that all nepo babies do not offer art that makes a difference in some shape or form, but it is slightly concerning that this exclusive circle of celebrity culture is condensed to DNA and a smidge of luck.
It’s Normal to Hate On the Privilege
Unfortunately, people’s opinions do not actually control the success of a nepo baby. A nepo baby’s connections in the entertainment industry are handed to them as a birthright, and no ill opinion of their subpar music releases or starring roles will pry the privilege from their blinged-out hands.
The true essence of an artist, one that is not reliant on fame or privilege, is about creating original media that resonates with others. We don’t need another A-lister talking about how she’s not a “real girl” anymore. Anyone is entitled to drag this synthetic, likely poor attempt at relatability, when nepo babies don’t need to worry if their songs will help them make rent that month. To many of us, nepo babies’ creative endeavors are nothing more than lukewarm passion projects that piqued their interest during a gap year in Europe. Nepotism, particularly in the entertainment industry, serves as a reminder that meritocracy is only second to notability and money.
vileplumed via TikTok
They Hate Until It’s Their Favorite Celebrity, Or Themselves
The root of all evil is money (and nepo baby envy). It feels unjust to disregard the unfairness that nepotism culture reifies. Too often do talented artists get the short end of the TikTok algorithm or in open Hollywood auditions because some kid with a notable last name asked for celebrity song promotions for their birthday that year or a leg up in the casting decisions.
This envy, however, makes room for an honest conversation: Would you be mad if you were born into a celebrity household? If you found out that your favorite “self-made” pop icon is the daughter of a world-renowned director, would your moral principles remain unwavering?
Many social media users plead the fifth, but others are completely transparent about the fact that if they had the funds and connections to produce lukewarm, mediocre art, they 100% would.
kyraevanshughes via TikTok
The topic of nepotism is not a matter of picking and choosing which celebrities you adore and which ones you’ve banned from your vocabulary—it is a conversation reliant on one’s morals regarding art for the sake of art, and art that actually means something. Beauty, since the beginning of time, is in the eye of the beholder, but bashing certain nepo babies while idolizing others is where we should draw the line. Hate them if you hate them, love them if you want to be them, but don’t tow the line—own it.
