Nepotism in Hollywood: The Good, the Bad, and the Unfair
From Gracie Abrams to Zoe Kravitz, it feels as though there is not a single modern celebrity excluded from the flood of nepotism. Celebrities no longer grow organically, but when did this exclusive trend begin? Nepotism happens when a child inherits their fame or connections from their parents or relatives, thus making them famous or successful merely by chance. Recently, the term “Nepo Baby” has made its rounds on the internet, as the recent surge, or what seems to be a recent surge, in nepotism in Hollywood has led to suspicion surrounding the ethics of this practice. Whether or not talent is inherited, is there an unfair advantage given to the children of celebrities? Although nepo babies do not decide their fate but instead capitalize on the opportunities that they have been given, the disintegration of Hollywood’s previous talent-based structure will lead to the downfall of the industry.
Nepotism is not limited to the film or arts industries, however; the US Government is a regular victim of nepotism, especially considering presidential elections. From names such as John Adams, Teddy Roosevelt, and George Bush comes John Quincy Adams, FDR, and George W. Bush. Each of these elected presidents have some relation to their predecessors, much like the names covering Hollywood right now. These democratic elections demonstrate that, even though people denounce nepotism, they still regularly contribute to it. Nepotism culture has changed recently, however, as people have begun to criticize Nepo Babies for being untalented or privileged. Like in the arts industries, many citizens have spoken out against the Russian government for employing too many officials out of nepotism. One specific commentator stated, “Favouritism and nepotism keep down effective competition for the superior positions and impede high performers’ career progress what turns to be one of the reasons for brain drain from Russia” (Safina). These negative reflections on government and nepotism reveal that people are not only tired of nepotism, they believe that it is corrupting the industries it overtakes. Although government is extremely different from the film or music industries, a negative effect on one will likely affect another. As nepotism makes its way through the Russian government, it corrupts it, and rejects the previous systems it had in place. Despite the previous acceptance of nepotism at the governmental level, nepotism is no longer viewed as a positive, or an inherited talent, but rather a disease spreading through these industries. Instead of focusing on the possible inheritance or places to learn from government nepotism, they are debunked because of the overarching negative effects. Although nepotism plays a large role in Hollywood, it has been both criticized and illuminated in other industries, much like film and music’s current problems.
Celebrity culture makes up a large part of American culture, as each and every person, no matter how rural they live, would understand who Taylor Swift is. This emphasis on brightly colored names and bedazzled legacy ultimately upholds the legacy of nepotism because it values proximity to celebrities. Additionally, these parasocial relationships insert the fans into this proximity (Claessens). When a fan feels a connection to a certain celebrity, they will likely extend that love to their family. These parasocial relationships are quickly formed, and further emphasized by the role of social media in celebrity culture. Looking back, however, the first true American celebrity, Clara Bow, rose to prominence completely organically (Hollywood Walk of Fame). Instead of manufacturing an image for herself, she built up her own story, which made her all the more interesting. Although she did not have a flashy name, she invented one, so people became interested in the ways she pulled off mainstream fame. Her luminous personality brought her farther than any connections could, but the system worked differently back then. The first real Nepo Baby, as we understand them today, was Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). His stepmother was the famous 20s actress Mary Pickford. Because of his familial ties, Fairbanks entered the acting field. He quickly found both passion and success in the industry, making him the first true Nepo Baby. This trend of introduction and reproduction only grew since Fairbanks’ experience, thus building the industry of nepotism seen today. Douglas Fairbanks Jr.’s success through his relatives only demonstrates the spiral of luck that Hollywood would soon fall into, even if the industry was already as exclusive as it could be. Although different from nepotism, celebrity culture and the ties American citizens build with them only creates the toxic atmospheres we see in Hollywood today.
Today, Nepo Babies face much backlash for simply existing in the industry, whether or not it was their connections that brought them there, but there are differing perspectives regarding their situations that differentiate who is a “valid” or “invalid” Nepo Baby. While Sofia Coppola directly followed her father Francis Ford Coppola, an acclaimed film director, in his field, she claims that her direct nepotism and quick access to resources does not diminish her as a director. She asserts that, although she had an opening, ultimately people will enjoy a good film whether or not it was created by a person from Hollywood or the middle of nowhere (Mulkerrins). While this statement diminishes those who do not have the resources to create a film like she does, she also touches on a more hidden side of nepotism. Bleak as it is, the surge of nepotism in Hollywood will continue, so either it will be something for people to get used to or it will be rebelled against. Sofia Coppola criticized the stigma around nepotism, but a similar star, Maya Hawke, had a different opinion. Maya Hawke, singer, actress, and daughter of actress Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, knows full well the benefits of nepotism. She understands that she likely would not be in the position that she was in without the aid of her parents, and she embraces that. In one interview, she was asked whether or not she owes her career to nepotism she replied, “There are so many people who deserve to have this kind of life who don’t, but I think I’m comfortable with not deserving it and doing it anyway. And I know that my not doing it wouldn’t help anyone” (Haque). Although she understands her privilege and her opportunities that opened the doors to opportunities like Stranger Things, she also comments on a lesser aspect of nepotism. If a person has passion or a talent but is a child of nepotism, there is no possible way to distance them from that nepotism label. While it most definitely aids them in casting and other areas, it is more important to try to contribute something to the industry and the world. Nepotism is a complicated issue, because it corrupts the industries it touches, yet at the core of the issue, it is merely a child following in their parents footsteps. Although these are horrible disruptions in the meritocracy of Hollywood, it is impossible to blame the celebrities who benefit from them, as there is little one can do to separate from the names they used to climb the industry.
Nepotism exists in every sphere of life, and although it is more frustrating yet apparent in art spaces, the problems with nepotism are societal, not individual, and they certainly are not limited to one industry. While these are widespread problems, that does not indicate that they are not problems at all. Although difficult, it is still crucial to criticize nepotism and disregard the system, no matter how marvelous Marie Antoinette was. Ultimately, nepotism will be difficult to prevent, but if it is not ended, Hollywood will destroy the talent-based, capitalistic nature of the industry in exchange for a monarchy of old stars. Always try to commit to understanding a persons talent before their name. Wealth inequalities and the barricades of equity are influenced heavily by nepotism, so to correct these gaps we must work to take down nepotism in all industries.
