“Nepo baby” is a modern term used to describe people who owe their success more to nepotism, which is family or personal connections, than to skill or merit. It’s particularly prevalent in the entertainment industry, where family ties often pave the way to fame and fortune. This sparks debate over whether those who benefit from nepotism truly deserve their status and whether it’s fair to those who start with fewer advantages. The music and film industries, in particular, have become increasingly difficult to break into due to nepotism, which is why celebrities who have benefited from nepotism have a responsibility to acknowledge their privilege.
The concept of “nepo babies” is a controversial one in Hollywood, with questions being raised about whether their status has been earned or bought. Regardless of one’s stance on the topic, there is no denying the countless privileges that come with celebrity nepotism. These tend to be people who have grown up in the industry and are familiar with the way it operates better than any outsider could be. There are also instances where commonly accepted industry standards do not seem to apply to those with a legacy.
One such example is Lila Moss, daughter of ‘90s supermodel Kate Moss. Lila Moss has been following in her mother’s footsteps in runway modeling over the last couple of years. And while female runway models can generally be no shorter than 5 feet, 8 inches, Moss is only approximated to be about 5 feet, 5 inches tall. Despite this, she has walked for high-class fashion houses such as Miu Miu, Coperni, and Fendi, usually being the shortest girl on the runway, regardless of platforms. Anyone who is at or below Moss’ height and trying to get into modeling would never be granted the same opportunities that Lila Moss has, and the only difference is her background.
Celebrities such as Gwenyth Paltrow and Kate Hudson have criticized the “nepotism” label. According to Hudson, it isn’t right to question the merit of celebrities born to famous parents, as they’ve only been given a foot in the door. Hudson told The Independent, “I don’t care where you come from, or what your relationship to the business is – if you work hard and you kill it, it doesn’t matter.” Yet industries like acting and modeling have too many people for the number of available jobs – and a foot in the door can mean a world of difference.
However, those who benefit from nepotism cannot choose their families, and it’s not entirely fair to shun them for taking advantage of presented opportunities. The real problem arises when these celebrities refuse to acknowledge that nepotism has helped them get where they are.
When those who benefit from nepotism disregard their privilege, it undermines the meritocracy that these industries are supposed to be based on and delegitimizes the achievements of those who started at the bottom and worked their way up to success. By disregarding nepotism and its consequences within the entertainment industry, there is no chance for change within the system.
Although there is no controlling the advantages one may get from their family, those who benefit from nepotism carry a certain responsibility to credit their privilege when talking about how they achieved success. Otherwise, industries will continue to become oversaturated with legacies, until it becomes nearly impossible to enter said industries without a foot in the door.