let's talk: what do y'all think about "nepo babies"? (1 Viewer)

[ChiaraStar169]

A memory sparked this thread. A few months ago, Baylee Littrell from American Idol was criticized because he's also Brian Littrell's (the Backstreet Boy) son. Do you think it was wrong of the Idol fans to do that?

I think it was a load of BS for them to call him out. Why can't children of stars also become famous without this stupid label being placed upon them? It's not nepotism at all - it's called being influenced, looking up to their parental role models.

 

[Selfmate]

everybody is free to call other people out or boycott/cancel things or critize things they do not like - it's freedom of choice after all
it's literally just having an opinion no? just as people can do the opposite of that and defend/support a person

in terms of nepo babies and nepotism - it happens in entertainment or in sports or life - get used to it

 

[athenaaa]

Nepotism happens often. Having a famous relative does help some people to get into the industry. But we have to remember that these children were exposed to certian pasttimes/industries from a young age. A musician’s kid will be surrounded by music, an athlete’s kid will be exposed to sports from a young age. If anything it makes sense to continue the family legacy. However, there have been some cases where children of famous people wanted to make it on their own. I remember of Elle King, most known for her song “Exes and Ohs” whose father is Rob Shnieder, but she wanted to make it in the industry without using his name. They have a rocky relationship anyways so she used her mom’s last name. I’ll never forget this quote from her;
“I wanted to be my own person. I never wanted to borrow money from anybody, and I've worked hard for my family and for me,” she told PEOPLE in February 2023. “I want to have a life built for myself, and I want to know that I did it."

 

[centen]

I don't care if they're actually good.

But "nepo baby" is usually used to point out that the person is mid af and where they're at is only because of their connections. (Not a commentary on the example in the OP, as I don't watch American Idol. Maybe he's actually good, idk.)

 

[Magician]

It really depends, like if the 'nepo baby' is actually talented (like Margaret Qualley or Maya Hawke)

But in Brian's case… his performances on American Idol were often terrible and he is not a good singer.
But I would never support the Littrell family in general

 

[velvet]

I like it when they know nepotism has helped them, Maya Hawke is an example.

I don't care if they're actually good.

But "nepo baby" is usually used to point out that the person is mid af and where they're at is only because of their connections. (Not a commentary on the example in the OP, as I don't watch American Idol. Maybe he's actually good, idk.)

But all in all I second this. It makes no sense to support nepo babies who are ignorant to their upbringings.

 

[Ahsoka]

I would guess that there may be some people accused of benefiting from nepotism when they in reality have fairly earned their spot and just happen to be related. But if they actually only got it because of nepotism then it becomes harder to really support that

 

[mysteric]

nepo baby really only became a thing for kids of established names with mid talent who would go on to say how they’re just like everyone else and got everything purely through hard work—ignoring how their connections and financial safety net give them a huge advantage getting their foot into the door
ayo edebiri had to give herself a timeline for her acting goals, starting out in writing roles to slowly work her way into television; I forgot who it was recently who said that modeling is hard and that they spent months in their nyc apartment without jobs when the vast majority of people simply cannot “work hard and not give up” like then because they don’t have the financial means to pursue their dreams like that
that’s why maya hawke, jack quaid, margaret qualley, etc don’t get associated with nepo babies as a term because a) they’re talented and b) they’ve acknowledged the advantages of having parents from the industry

 

[WelshDokkaebi]

Nepotism helps open all sorts of doors and not just in music, could be in the film industry, sports or any industry. If there is an unqualified relative getting a senior position within a company over someone who works hard to work their way up the corporate ladder then that isn't a place I'd want to work.

 

[eclipsoul]

what i think of them as people depends on how they approach the subject. i don't know the bsb guy so i can't speak on him, but i don't really mind people who benefit from having famous parents if they're self aware like jack quaid or lewis pullman. it's cases where they claim that they absolutely deny being privileged due to nepotism (dakota johnson for example... or multiple celebs from my country) which i find insufferable. then there's also a few of them which imo would have still made it based on pure talent like miley cyrus who's an incredible musician meanwhile her father is some 90s one hit wonder. or liza minnelli and carrie fisher who are iconic enough on their own that i forgot they had famous parents.