“Who?” was the first thought that entered my mind as I saw a recent post from Vogue on my Instagram feed. Ever the product of my generation, I had just settled into bed after a long day to scroll on social media. After opening Instagram, the headlining post to start my session of mindless viewing featured a vaguely familiar blonde girl, doing an oh so typical contemporary photo shoot in front of what appeared to be a concrete wall. No alarm bells were raised until I looked at the caption, titled, “Apple Martin Is Ready For Her Next Chapter.” The post contained images from the shoot and a snippet of a recent article. Suddenly, I knew why the girl was somewhat recognizable.
Famous for her unique name, Apple Martin was the daughter of the Oscar-winning actress and businesswoman, Gwyneth Paltrow. Notably, her father is Chris Martin, the lead singer and songwriter of the Grammy-winning rock band Coldplay. But what kept playing in my mind was why would she have an article in Vogue? Did I miss something? Was there some noteworthy accomplishment that I had forgotten about? The answer was no; there was nothing completed in the industry, no movie or runway to talk about. Well then, why would such a prestigious magazine feature a somewhat ordinary college girl like Martin within its pages? The answer, very simply, lies with nepotism.
While nepotism has always been something that has existed within the entertainment industry, in recent years, nepotism has been more obvious because of the disproportionate number of stars’ descendants pursuing similar careers to their parents than ever before. It all started in 2022, when social media coined the term “nepo baby,” short for nepotism baby. Anyone with parents who worked within any facet of the arts or entertainment industry could be targeted with this term.
The earliest victim, 28-year-old actress Maude Apatow, got her big break on the hit TV series Euphoria in 2019. Little known to the audience, she had been getting roles throughout her childhood in her father’s, famed director, Judd Apatow’s films. It wasn’t until she was exposed on social media that Apatow was the first to be branded with the title of “nepo baby.” Even asked about the new adjective in an interview with Porter, Apatow said that at first the title made her sad simply because she wanted to be solely judged on her talent, not her famous parentage. Now, after much contemplation, Apatow does understand the jest in the term and her inherent privilege. She stated, “I try not to let it get to me because I obviously understand that I’m in such a lucky position. A lot of people [in a similar position] have proven themselves over the years, so I’ve got to keep going and make good work.”
Unlike Apatow, some in the industry haven’t been able to acknowledge the blatant nepotism that works in their favor time and time again. Specifically, Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of the infamous Oscar-nominated actor Johnny Depp and all-around starlet Vanessa Paradis. Having received roles in high-profile films and TV shows like Nosferatu and The Idol, Depp’s career mirrors that of both of her parents. Additionally, she has also been an ambassador for the luxury brand, Chanel, since the ripe age of sixteen. Coincidentally, Paradis, Depp’s mother, was also known for her partnership with Chanel in the heyday of her own career.
Naturally, with the facts in front of us, it’s obvious to the naked eye that nepotism has had a certain role in Depp’s career. When questioned about her “nepo baby” status in Elle, Depp had only one response. “People are going to have preconceived ideas about you or how you got there, and I can definitely say that nothing is going to get you the part except for being right for the part.” Doubling down, Depp continued by saying, “The internet cares a lot more about who your family is than people who are casting you in things. Maybe you get your foot in the door, but you still just have your foot in the door. There’s a lot of work that comes after that.” While we can understand the work that goes into maintaining your prowess once you get the role, getting your foot in the door is practically the whole game in the entertainment industry. For many young, unknown actors, the hardest part is getting started, something that Depp had no problem with because of her famous parents. In the interview, Depp even shares, “I just hear it a lot more about women, and I don’t think that it’s a coincidence.” Personally, I feel that this last statement is a complete deflection from the main point. Especially when famous male offspring like Brooklyn Beckham and Jaden Smith are pushed and criticized, if not more than, their female counterparts, for their parents’ continued role in their careers.
Where my internal gripe with Lily-Rose Depp resides is the lack of awareness and humility in her statements. What hurt could it have done to acknowledge the role your famous parentage played in your career? To myself and many others on the outside, Depp’s response sounded like the delusions of someone served their life on a silver platter. In my opinion, the ability to remain humble and gracious in the face of success is what differentiates between great and okay. Neither of the said traits was present in Depp’s interview, nor are they in the conversations of many of Hollywood’s elite next generation. Tone deaf and completely out of touch with reality, Depp is the perfect example of why the term “nepo baby” exists in the first place.
Even now, years later, the adjective remains relevant in the current landscape of the entertainment industry. For example, the case of Apple Martin this past March. Nepotism will exist in any industry, no matter what term you give its descendants, but those in the entertainment industry are the most apparent. The difference to me and many others is who is going to own up and accept their inherent privilege, what are they so afraid of? Supermodel Vittoria Ceretti, who came from humble beginnings herself, said it best on her Instagram story shortly after Lily-Rose Depp’s article with Elle was released. The message Ceretti typed shared many sentiments, the punchline being, “I have many nepo baby friends whom I respect, but I can’t stand listening to you compare yourself to me. I was not born on a sexy pillow with a view. I know it’s not your fault, but please, appreciate and know the place you came from.” Truly, I feel like many are asking for the minimum from those who have inherited so much to acknowledge their influential ties, at least when asked about it. In the words of Ceretti, “I would have loved to see if you would have lasted through the first five years of my career.”
Words by Erika Marquardt
Graphic by Eve Friday