If you’re active on social media, you’ve probably seen the phrase Nepo Babyfloating around. This term has become quite popular, especially on TikTok. But if you’re not familiar with it or want to know more, here’s the deal. The term Nepo Babies,—which is the plural form—is short for ‘nepotism baby.’ According to the Real Academia Española, ‘nepotism’ refers to giving preferential treatment or opportunities to family members rather than based on their own skills or qualifications.
So, when people talk about nepo babies, they’re referring to the children of celebrities who have –or might– succeeded in careers similar to those of their wealthy or famous parents, or other well-connected relatives. The idea is that these individuals may have had a leg up in their careers because of their family connections in the industry. Essentially, it’s using family privilege to get ahead.
What is the Origin of the Term ‘Nepo Babies’?
The term gained a lot of popularity in 2022 when people on the internet realized that many celebrities come from well-known families. Especially in Hollywood, where it seems like everyone is somehow connected. While it’s not clear how it all started, some say it began when someone found out that Maude Apatow, one of the main stars of Euphoria, is the daughter of actress Leslie Mann and director Judd Apatow.
Eric Dane, Colman Domingo, Zendaya, Sam Levinson, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Angus Cloud, Maude Apatow, Dominic Fike and Austin Abrams attend HBO’s Euphoria Season 2 Photo Call. Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images.
After that, Nepo Baby started trending on TikTok as users pointed out many other Nepo Babies. Additionally, Vulture released a list of nepo babies that same year and called 2022 ‘The Year of the Nepo Baby’.
However, it’s worth mentioning that this kind of ‘nepotism’ has been around in all sorts of industries for a long time. What’s different now is that younger generations, who are big on equality—like Gen Z—are starting to notice and speak out against the ‘special treatment’ these people get and how easily they seem to succeed.
Being a Nepo Baby
Willow Smith’s hit song «Wait a Minute!» is probably familiar to many. Recently, she announced her upcoming album titled Empathogen. However, despite the excitement of releasing such an important project, Will Smith’s youngest daughter admitted to Allure about feeling insecure about being a Nepo Baby.
A little bit of insecurity has driven me harder because people do think that the only reason I’m successful is because of my parents.”
It’s important to note that, regardless of whether they’re Nepo Babies or not, many of them have managed to succeed without riding on their parents’ fame. It’s their talent that has allowed them to shine or stay in the spotlight. Here are some of the individuals known as Nepo Babies in various sectors of the industry.
Music
Miley Cyrus
As we already know, the singer is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus. Additionally, one of the greatest country music artists, Dolly Parton, is her godmother.
Vijat Mohindra/Getty Images.
Enrique Iglesias
The singer is the son of the equally renowned Spanish singer, Julio Iglesias, credited as the most successful Spanish-speaking artist in history.
Enrique Iglesias Vs. Julio Iglesias (Getty Images).
Willow Smith & Jaden Smith
As we mentioned before, Willow is the daughter of the famous actor, rapper, and producer Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. She’s really leaned into her music career, while her brother, Jaden Smith, has been busy with both music and acting. One of Jaden’s first big roles was in The Pursuit of Happyness back in 2006, where he acted alongside his dad.
Jaden Smith and Willow Smith attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating «Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion» at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s talent is pretty clear, and that’s widely recognized. Even though her parents aren’t artists themselves, it’s interesting to note, as Buzzfeed pointed out, that her dad, Scott Swift, used to be a stockbroker and even gave advice to artists in the music business. Her mom worked in marketing.
Getty Images.
Actually, Scott even invested in Big Machine Records, which was Taylor’s first label, and now he runs The Swift Group at Merrill Lynch. But beyond the financial backing, the real support for Taylor probably came from how her parents cheered her on. They always made her feel special and believed she could achieve anything she set her mind to.
Gracie Abrams
Gracie, who has performed with Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour and is also working on a song with her, is the daughter of well-known J.J. Abrams. If you don’t know him, J.J. Abrams wears many hats in the entertainment world. He’s a director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and composer. He’s best known for creating the hit TV series Lost and running the film production company Bad Robot Productions.
As you might guess from her last name, she’s the daughter of the famous musician and singer Lenny Kravitz, and actress Lisa Bonet. Zoë Kravitz is best known for her role in The Batman (2022) alongside Robert Pattinson. She’s also been into music since she was 16.
Margaret has built her career in acting and modeling, but she’s most notable for her roles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and as the lead in the series Maid, where she stars alongside her mother, actress Andie MacDowell.
#TIL Margaret Qualley + Andie MacDowell in Netflix’s MAID are actually mother-daughter in real life pic.twitter.com/Sur296CUx9
Margaret’s older sister, Rainey Qualley, is also an actress and singer.
Você sabia? A atriz Margaret Qualley tem uma irmã cantora que também é atriz. Trata-se de Rainey Qualley, que pode ser vista no tenso suspense «Trancada». Detalhe: as duas são filhas da estrela Andie MacDowell. pic.twitter.com/UZaf0CLJ5Q
Interestingly, Timothée also comes from a family with strong ties to the entertainment industry. His mother, Nicole Flender, used to be an actress and a Broadway dancer. His uncle has directed episodes of well-known shows like «Dawson’s Creek,» «Gilmore Girls,» and «The O.C.,» and his aunt is a writer and producer who’s worked on several popular series.
You might not know this, but Zoey is the daughter of actress Lea Thompson, known for her role as Lorraine McFly in Back to the Future. She is also the daughter of filmmaker Howard Deutch.
𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈 ––– ❛❛ Zoey Deutch with her parents Lea Thompson and Howard Deutch at the #VampireAcademy premiere after party on February 4, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
🎈 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 🎈
Proprio ieri è stato il compleanno del papà di Zoey. pic.twitter.com/1dBMUrEa9a
Her parents are renowned actor Johnny Depp and French singer, model, and actress Vanessa Paradis. Lily initially pursued a career in modeling, following her mother’s path as a Chanel ambassador. Later on, she ventured into acting, starring in series like The Idol.
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