In December 2022, New York magazine’s cover story on nepo babies, external caused a stir in the showbusiness industry.
The cover featured the faces of famous actors including Dakota Johnson, Jack Quaid, Zoë Kravitz and Lily Rose-Depp edited onto the bodies of babies, with the headline: “She has her mother’s eyes. And agent.”
The story claimed that “a nepo baby is physical proof that meritocracy is a lie” and that “today, they’re not only abundant – they’re thriving”.
It was met with backlash by many stars who claimed the label was unfair and diminished their hard work.
Gwyneth Paltrow, a nepo baby herself as the daughter of actress Blythe Danner and film director Bruce Paltrow, said the term was an “ugly moniker” and that children of famous people should not be judged negatively because “there’s nothing wrong with doing or wanting to do what your parents do”.
Similarly, Zoe Kravitz told GQ that it was “completely normal for people to be in the family business”, while Stranger Things actress Maya Hawke said a famous family name “definitely gives you massive advantages in this life 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”.
Almost Famous star Kate Hudson, daughter of actors Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson, said in a 2022 interview with the Independent that “people call it whatever they want”, but the idea that children will follow in the footsteps of their parents is “not going to change”.
