Nepotism can be frustrating, especially for those in industries — like the entertainment business — where the chances of landing a career is slim to none.
It’s not like we kids of famous people who wind up working in film, TV, music, fashion and the like is new. But in recent months, celebrity nepo kids came out of the woodwork, some addressing their privilege while others insisted they have to worker to get where they are.
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If only they could all be like actress Maya Hawke (daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman) or model Gigi Hadid (daughter of Yolanda Hadid and Mohamed Hadid) and acknowledge they are lucky to be where they are and own up to who their parents are and how that association helped.
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Instead, there are those who get really defensive about their last names, or some who are so entitled, they don’t even recognize the advantages that come with having famous family members.
Hailey Bieber (daughter of Stephen Baldwin and niece of Alec, Daniel and William Baldwin)
In 2016, before she married Justin Bieber, the model told Grazia magazine, “Kids that already have a famous background are just following in their families’ footsteps. My dad and all of his brothers have done this. This is my family business.”
It’s unclear if she was admitting she got that extra boost or failed to see it.
O’Shea Jackson Jr. (son of rapper and actor Ice Cube)
Like many defensive nepobabies, Jackson hopped on Twitter to clarify that, up to now, he has worked hard in his acting career.
“I had to get my ass up and make it work. From the roles I chose. The work ethic I put into them,” he tweeted.
I had to get my ass up and make it work. From the roles I chose. The work ethic I put into them. My professionalism on sets and promo tours. Even leaving HIS agency and goin to find a team of my own. Once the door was opened it was up to me to walk through it and thrive.
— O’Shea Jack(Nichol)son (@OsheaJacksonJr) December 20, 2022
He went on to share that he left his father’s agency and had to find a team of his own.
“Once the door was opened it was up to me to walk through it and thrive,” says the guy who played his dad in Straight Outta Compton, thanks to that door being left open a crack.
Romy Mars (daughter of director Sofia Coppola and Thomas Mars, lead singer of the indie pop band Phoenix)
In a video posted to her now-deleted TikTok account (but saved to Twitter by a superhero), Romy revealed she was grounded for trying to charter a helicopter from New York to Maryland on her father’s credit card.
While stuck at home, she asked followers to help her make pasta with vodka sauce – but didn’t know the difference between onions and garlic. At least she admitted she was embarrassed.
Lily Rose Depp (daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis)
The 23-year-old’s acting abilities have yet to be proven but Depp still managed to annoy social media when he was asked about her nepobaby status and compared her situation to being the child of a doctor wanting to go to medical school.
“Maybe you get your foot in the door, but you still just have your foot in the door,” she told Elle magazine in November. “There’s a lot of work that comes after that.”
