We live in a world where it’s not what you know but who you know, and there are certain people who are born knowing the who’s who.
These individuals have taken over the arts, academia and business industries for decades, whether you knew them or not. Now, with the power of technology and the worldwide web, you do know them.
Nepo Babies, or more formally, the descendants of famous actors and actresses, business moguls and executives.
Every week a new one is unveiled, bad actors that keep getting casted, industry–plant singers that somehow create albums with top producers, the rich and famous youth that have connections you can only dream of.
A common theme has emerged: new celebs getting outed or accused of being a nepo baby. For the accusations that ring true, they commonly deny their connection as if their blood is something that needs to be washed out before it stains their image.
But why would you want to deny your birthright?
Though there are perks, the mere suggestion of industry ties raises eyebrows. The public begins to ask questions: Did you get your job because you earned it, or because your family helped you? Are you actually talented?
In an interview with The Cut magazine, actress Emma Roberts, niece of actress Julia Roberts and daughter of actor Eric Roberts, said that if you’re not “the girl from the middle of nowhere that broke into Hollywood,” people tend to dismiss you.
I will even add, if you join the same industry as your successful parents, then expectations will be higher. If you are worse than your parents or relatives, then getting The golden ticket is seen as a waste. There is no opportunity to be average.
When your last name rolls out the red carpet, you’re stuck on a single path paved by your parents. To stray or branch out would be seen as willfully disregarding all that your parents have done to set up a future for you. When you walk the path, you have to be perfect or the media rips you to shreds.
Nepo babies aren’t even allowed to speak about the way they are treated because people choose to not see the human through all their privileges.
I’m not saying nepo babies have it harder than everyone else. Rather, I am saying there are understandable reasons for denying such ties. Lily-Rose Depp, the daughter of actor Johnny Depp, said that while connections may open doors, staying in the room still requires work.
Even so, nepotism comes with a built-in safety net. When things go wrong, there is often a cushion to fall back on.
Here’s the general consensus: no one cares if you are a nepo baby, they care if you are good at your job — so long as you don’t deny it. But everyone cares if the person with no connections is good at their job.
This is the gripe many have with these star-born children denying the privileges of their blood. Many people have to scrap to just get their foot in the door of any industry these days, and to deny that your connections helped you get inside the door is insulting and downright untrue.
Regular people know the hurdles they have to jump over to get a shot.
Someone trying to prove their dad owning the hurdling track and removing all the hurdles for their child didn’t help them win the race is a lie.
You may have worked hard for your spot, but your situation was not harder than someone’s without help. There is nothing wrong with needing help. There is something wrong with clearly getting help and acting as if you didn’t.
It doesn’t take away from your skill to acknowledge the ways in which others have helped you. In actuality, people will like you more if you do.
Michaiah Stephens is a 22-year-old English major from Durham, N.C.
