Nepotism in Hollywood has been around since time immemorial. However, in the past few years, the term has been picked up more than ever before. So much so, that New York Magazine branded 2022 as the year of the nepo babies. If you aren’t really aware of what the new term means, it’s simply a famous person who came to the industry all thanks to their parents.
People haven’t been exactly full of warmth when it comes to these blessed artists, especially if they don’t see why they are famous in the first place. While there are quite a few loved “nepo babies” in the industry including, Miley Cyrus, Kate Hudson, and George Clooney, fans don’t seem to mind them as they have proved their worth with their work. The latest issue of New York Magazine took a dig at some “nepo babies,” putting them back in diapers.
What are Nepo Babies?
New York Magazine published a guide on the Nepo-Verse of Hollywood through its pop culture publication, Vulture. Writer Nate Jones wrote an extensive piece on how Hollywood is filled to the brim with nepo babies. His writing gave way to a debate on the Internet where people discussed about the success of star kids in the industry. “This is the nepo baby’s credo: Try, and if at first, you don’t succeed, remember you’re still a celebrity’s child, so try, try again,” Jones wrote.
According to Vulture, nepo babies are divided into quite a few categories. The first category discusses the artists that are “On The Come-up” and haven’t yet received a prominent status. The next category is “Booked and Busy” which includes celebrities who have successfully made a career in Hollywood. Up next are the “Platinum Grade” nepo babies which include celebrities like Miley Cyrus, daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus. These nepo babies have made their own mark in the industry despite coming from famous parents. Leading the pyramid are artists like George Clooney and Gwyneth Paltrow who have proved their worth time and again with their brilliant skills and fans simply do not care if they are products of nepotism or not.
On the cover of New York Magazine, a few of these nepo babies can be seen wearing diapers and cute little onesies. Some of the artists seen on the cover include Zoë Kravitz (daughter of actress Lisa Bonet and musician Lenny Kravitz), Jack Quaid (son of actors Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid), and Dakota Johnson (daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith).
Fans are quite divided in this debate as some believe that a large number of these “nepo babies” deserve to be where there are owing to the work they have done. However, it doesn’t change the fact that there are a few names that are where they are all thanks to having a helping hand.
Johnny Depp’s Daughter Criticized for Supporting Nepotism
The debate was further fuelled when Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis’ daughter, Lily-Rose Depp took a stand in favor of nepotism. In an interview with Elle, she stated that even though coming from famous parents might help you put a foot through the door, the rest is up to you, completely.
“The Internet cares a lot more about who your family is than people who are casting you in things. Maybe you get your foot in the door, but you still just have your foot in the door. There’s a lot of work that comes after that.”
Of course, her comments received harsh criticism from fans and artists alike. Victoria Ceretti who is a rising supermodel stated on her Instagram story that while she respects a lot of nepo babies, Depp shouldn’t compare the two, stating that she wasn’t born on a comfortable pillow with a view. Ceretti added that while it wasn’t Depp’s fault she was born into a famous family, she should appreciate her privilege. Looks like the debate isn’t going to die any time soon!
Source: Vulture
