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Header image: It’s the “Year of the Nepo Babies” and Hailey Bieber specifically wore this shirt (important note: in a parking lot where the paparazzi coincidentally happened to be) to proudly showcase her heritage and lineage. Image Source: Getty Images (HarpersBazaar.com)
Let’s be honest. You probably read the headline and clicked on this article with the intention of sharing your thoughts. Don’t worry, your feelings are valid. However, allow me to present a different perspective. “Nepo baby” is a term that may not be found in the dictionary, but it’s widely used in Urban Dictionary. It derives from the concept of nepotism, which refers to the practice of favoring relatives or friends for positions of power or privilege without considering their qualifications or merits. Nepo babies are the offspring of famous parents who likely had an influence on their rise to social prominence in Hollywood. While this is a sensitive topic and rightly frustrates many people, it’s important to recognize that nepotism is prevalent in various fields, including tech companies, universities, and politics. For instance, in 2019, it was revealed that 47% of accepted white applicants at Harvard were legacy picks. Similarly, the Philippines has a reputation for appointing relatives to government posts. Even some companies follow a tradition of passing leadership roles to generations within the same family, such as Samsung, which rarely outsources and heavily relies on familial connections. These are the issues that celebrities rarely address on their Instagram feeds. The December 2022 issue of New York Magazine, featuring the nepo-baby boom, ignited a firestorm of debate among readers and the featured celebrities. Image Source: Joe Darrow and Nate Jones (New York Magazine) However, the focus on nepotism is primarily directed at the entertainment industry, which has turned it into a widely discussed phenomenon. It encompasses fame, power, wealth, prestige, and exclusivity, where nepo babies always have the upper hand in seizing opportunities. It’s not difficult to understand why the general public gets frustrated with this, but their frustrations are not unfounded. It’s important to acknowledge that nepo babies are not at fault for who they are. They are born into the spotlight, whether they desire it or not. However, their acknowledgment of their privileged position becomes a point of contention for people. Some nepo babies adamantly reject their family names and assert that they are “self-made,” claiming they worked just as hard as anyone else. These individuals often don’t earn much favor from the public. There’s no denying the advantages that nepotism affords in the entertainment industry. Growing up with celebrity parents and being raised in the public eye undoubtedly makes navigating the industry easier. Opportunities are handed to them on a silver platter, and their last names grant them access to places others can only dream of. However, there is another side to this coin that is rarely explored. Featuring only a fraction of Hollywood’s nepo babies: On the left, we have Lila Moss, the 20-year-old model and daughter of legendary supermodel Kate Moss. On the right, we have Maya Hawke, an actress and songwriter who is the child of Golden Globe-winning actress Uma Thurman and ‘Before Sunrise’ actor Ethan Hawke. Image Source: Getty Images (L-R: WhoWhatWear.com & TheStar.com) I believe that nepo babies face unique challenges that may go unrecognized. While the media often focuses on the opportunities they receive and the gigs they secure, they also carry the weight of tremendous expectations. There is a constant pressure to live up to the family name, and this can be a toxic game to play. Every aspect of their lives, especially their inherited talents and skills, is scrutinized relentlessly. This leads to unceasing expectations and comparisons with their parents, “self-made” celebrities, or even their peers who are also nepo babies. It creates a psychological turmoil that is often dismissed as a side effect of privilege or “rich people problems,” but it is a genuine struggle. When they fail to live up to the legacy of their parents, they carry a burden of guilt, as if they intentionally tarnished their family’s reputation. They also internalize the question of whether they would be where they are without their powerful lineage, sometimes hindering their pursuit of genuine fulfillment. Furthermore, they may inherit the baggage associated with their celebrity parents, including being subject to cancel culture or facing widespread hatred, as if it’s a new generational curse they must bear. Yes, nepo babies are presented with countless career opportunities, but at the same time, they experience immense pressure from a young age. They are thrust into the spotlight, exposed to relentless scrutiny, and are afforded no room for mistakes or a “normal” childhood. Lastly, they enter the world as if they are lions in a petting zoo, where all eyes are on them and people eagerly anticipate the drama they have already constructed in their minds. So let’s not rush to judge them based solely on their parents’ achievements or their privileged upbringings.
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