For Jamie Lee Curtis, ‘nepo baby’ criticisms are meant to ‘disparage and hurt’

Nepo-baby is definitely the watchword. It refers to the children of famous or successful people who have benefited from their parents’ popularity to occupy spaces in sectors such as entertainment, fashion or art. Children of nepotism. It seems that this expression started being used on TikTok after the release of the second season of ‘Euphoria’, when its fans realized that one of its protagonists, Maude Apatow, was the daughter of director Judd Apatow and the actress Leslie Mann. These videos point to different stars “daughters of” They became popular and the debate moved from social networks to the real world after Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, rejected this notion, telling Elle magazine: “You could get your foot in the door, but you still only have your foot in the door. Then comes a lot of work.”

The climax of the reporting occurred this same month of December, when this expression appeared on the cover of New York Magazine in the feature ‘Extremely Overanalyzing Hollywood’s Nepo-Baby Boom’ (Extremely excessive analysis of Hollywood’s Nepo-Baby Boom) on the love and hate these figures elicit. Prior to this talk, Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of Tony Curtis (‘Skirts and Crazy’) and Janet Leigh (‘Psycho’), explained how she feels about her Instagram account, calling herself one of the “original daughters of nepotism”.

The post includes an image of Curtis with his parents and his sister, Kelly Curtis, also an actress and director, and begins by saying: “I’ve been a professional actress since I was 19, which makes me an original Nepo-Baby. I never understood and never will understand what qualities made me assume that day, but from my first two lines on ‘Quincy’ signed for Universal Studios to this last spectacular creative year, some 44 years later, not a day goes by in my professional life without being reminded that I am the daughter of movie stars. The current conversation about nepo children is designed only to try to tear down, vilify and hurt.” Her first role in front of the cameras was in the crime series ‘Quincy’ as ‘girl in the locker room’, just before she signed on for ‘Operation Petticoat’ and her big moment in cinemas: ‘Halloween night’ in 1978.

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“For the record, I have sailed for 44 years with the benefits that my fame has brought me by association, I won’t pretend there aren’t any, but now try and tell me I have no value on my own”Curtis continues. “It’s funny how we immediately assume and make snide comments that someone related to someone else who is famous in their field for their art would somehow have no talent. I have come to know that it is simply not true. I have dressed and presented for all kinds of jobs with thousands and thousands of people and every day I have tried to bring integrity, professionalism, love, community and artistry to my work.” In addition to starring in the saga of “Halloween”, La Curtis’ career includes such memorable titles as ‘The Game Goes Between Crooks’, ‘A Fish Called Wanda’, ‘My Girlfriend’, ‘Risky Lies’, ‘Put Yourself in My Place’, ‘Daggers in the Back’ and most recently ‘ Everything at once “. time everywhere”, and that’s just to name a few.

Don’t generalize

“I’m not alone”concludes Curtis in his reflection, “There are many of us. Dedicated to our craft. Proud of our lineage. Strengthened by our belief in our right to exist. In these difficult days with so much anger in the world, can we just try to find that calming voice that reminds us of the brilliant film ‘Everything At Once Everywhere’ and also my friend Rob Reynolds? Note to myself: Be kind. Be gentle. Be gentle.”

Curtis isn’t the only one who has spoken out about the backlash nepo children are experiencing, Lily Allen, daughter of Keith Allen, also wrote in Chirping that such views can lead to a “childhood trauma”; and O’Shea Jackson Jr., son of Ice Cube that we saw in ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’, tweeted: “My father couldn’t take my hand in my career. I had to get off my ass and make it work. From the roles I choose. The work ethic I put into it. My professionalism on shoots and promotional tours. Even leaving his agency and step out to find my team. Once the door opened, it was up to me to walk through it and thrive.” The bottom line for them seems to be that while it is fair to say that if you are the son or daughter of someone with connections and a name in an industry it will be much easier for you to get your head around it and get opportunities, it is up to you and your talent keeps you and grows. Meritocracy yes, but no.