The Whole “Nepo Baby” Debate Really Aggravates Gwyneth Paltrow
Paltrow, who has two kids that could be considered “nepo babies” (if they ever decide to pursue a career in entertainment), is actually a “nepo baby” herself.
Gwyneth Paltrow has never been one to shy away from sharing how she feels, and she is opening up about the “nepo baby” criticism, leveled at those who allegedly benefit from nepotism, specifically within the entertainment industry. (Paltrow’s two children Apple and Moses, for example, could be considered “nepo babies”; Paltrow herself could be as well, as her parents, Blythe Danner and Bruce Paltrow, are both successful in show business—Danner is an actress and Paltrow was a director.)
The “nepo baby” debate kicked into high gear last year when New York Magazine released an article about the large number of celebrities that have parents, siblings, or other relatives in Hollywood, pointing out that it seemingly makes it easier for them to have access to opportunities.
“Now there’s this whole nepo baby culture, and there’s this judgment that exists around kids of famous people,” Paltrow said in an interview with The Guardian. “But there’s nothing wrong with doing or wanting to do what your parents do.”
On her daughter, Apple, Paltrow said that she “just wants to be a kid and be at school and learn,” adding “Nobody rips on a kid who’s like ‘I want to be a doctor like my dad and granddad.’”
Paltrow said she’s trying to protect Apple and her son, Moses, from being branded with the dreaded label. (Paltrow shares both Apple and Moses with ex Chris Martin, the frontman of Coldplay.) “The truth is, if you grow up in a house with a lot of artists and people making art and music, that’s what you know, the same way that if you grow up in a house with law, the discussions around the table are about the nuances of whatever particular law the parents practice,” she said. “I think it’s kind of an ugly moniker. I just hope that my children always feel free to pursue exactly what they want to do, irrespective of what anybody’s going to think or say.”
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Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
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