According to Gwyneth Paltrow, labeling someone a “nepo baby” is a “ugly moniker” and there is no need to pass judgment on famous people’s children.
The phrase alludes to accusations of nepotism when a young person chooses to follow in the footsteps of their well-known parents.
“Now there’s this whole nepo baby culture, and there’s this judgement that exists around kids of famous people,” the 51-year-old actress said.
“But there’s nothing wrong with doing or wanting to do what your parents do.”
Being the daughter of filmmaker Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, Paltrow herself fits within that group.
The Coldplay vocalist Chris Martin and the Oscar-winning actress, who also owns the wellness company Goop, are parents to two kids.
In response to a question from Bustle regarding her 19-year-old daughter Apple, Paltrow stated that she “really just a student” and “just wants to be a kid and be at school and learn”.
She added: “Nobody rips on a kid who’s like, ‘I want to be a doctor like my dad and granddad.’
“The truth is if you grow up in a house with a lot of artists and people making art and music, that’s what you know, the same way that if you grow up in a house with law, the discussions around the table are about the nuances of whatever particular law the parents practise.
“I think it’s kind of an ugly moniker. I just hope that my children always feel free to pursue exactly what they want to do, irrespective of what anybody’s going to think or say.”
The term “nepo baby” gained popularity last year to describe a new wave of celebrities, including Zoe Kravitz (Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet), Dakota Johnson (Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith), Maude Apatow (Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann), Maya Hawke (daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman), and Lily-Rose Depp (Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis).
“Nepo babies” are nothing new in Hollywood, according to a December 2017 article in New York magazine, but the realization that “today, they’re not only abundant – they’re thriving” sparked a fierce backlash.
It added: “A nepo baby is physical proof that meritocracy is a lie. We love them, we hate them, we disrespect them, we’re obsessed with them.”
Celebrity dynasty members have discussed the significance of the inherited advantage.
According to Depp Jr., who played in the TV drama The Idol, a name only goes so far. “Maybe you get your foot in the door, but you still just have your foot in the door,” she stated to Elle. “There’s a lot of work that comes after that.”
The Stranger Things actor, Hawke, has acknowledged that having a family provides you “definitely massive advantages in this life”.
She told Rolling Stone: “You will get chances for free, but the chances will not be infinite; so you have to keep working and do a good job. If you do a bad job, the chances will stop.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, the Oscar winner, has also made comments, stating that “I am constantly reminded that I am the daughter of movie stars throughout my professional life.” Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh are the actresses’ parents.
“The current conversation about nepo babies is just designed to try and diminish and denigrate and hurt”, she added.
“It’s curious how we immediately make assumptions and snide remarks that someone related to someone else who is famous in their field for their art, would somehow have no talent whatsoever.”
