Maya Hawke, Lily-Rose Depp, Brooklyn Beckham, Dakota Johnson, Jaden Smith – the list of nepo babies seems endless and the internet has made one thing very clear: it’s not impressed. We’ve all seen it before: a fresh new face lands a starring role in a major movie, and within minutes, the internet does its homework. Someone uncovers that their dad is an Oscar-winner, or their mum is a famous director, and just like that, the eye-rolls, the TikTok’s, and the inevitable discourse starts to roll in. But is it really about celebrity kids, or the systems they represent?
According to Jordan Foster, a Professor of Sociology at McMaster University, the backlash against nepo babies isn’t just about Hollywood, it’s a window into deeper frustrations around class inequality, privilege, and the crumbling myth of meritocracy. “Most Western institutions are built on the idea of meritocracy, and that hard work leads to success,” Foster explains. “It’s a comforting belief that if we work hard and play by the rules, we’ll get ahead. It’s an idea that is centred on fairness, and most of us can buy into that because it’s a very appetising message.”
But unfortunately, what was once seen as a guiding principle is now more widely referred to by sociologists as ‘the myth of meritocracy’, as more people begin to recognise just how deeply success is shaped by privilege, connections, and inherited advantage, rather than just talent or hard work. “Young people are increasingly aware that hard work alone doesn’t guarantee success, and in fact, many of us are born several steps ahead in this proverbial rat race. So in reality, I think Nepo babies become a symbol of that frustration, a reminder of just how tilted the playing field really is. They illustrate this fallout and this deep dissatisfaction with the economic reality that most of us find ourselves in,” said Foster.
And when their wealth and privilege are on display for all to see, from designer wardrobes to private jets, it only adds to the sting. Social media gives us a front-row seat to the lives of the rich and connected, making their privilege feel even more glaring and our own struggles even more unfair. Foster agrees, saying “Because the sons and daughters of celebrities are so highly visible in our mainstream media ecosystem, they do become easy targets on which we can foist all of this class anxiety. We see how much they have, the beautiful things that they own, and for many people struggling financially, it can feel incredibly unfair.”
Still, some celebrity offspring claim it’s actually harder for them. According to Jamie Lee Curtis, her lineage meant she had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously, but sociologist Jordan Foster is unconvinced. “They may face more criticism,” he says, “but that’s not the same as struggling to get your foot in the door. Countless aspiring actors may be working two to three jobs to make ends meet in Los Angeles while also running to auditions during breaks, and that is not something that the son or daughter of a celebrity has to do. Having a famous name opens doors others don’t even get to knock on.”
The question isn’t just whether nepotism exists, it’s why it stings so much now. As the cost of living rises, wages stagnate, and social mobility slows, stories of generational wealth and inherited advantage hit so much harder.
“This isn’t just about celebrity kids,” Foster adds. “It’s about how inequality is reinforced and reproduced more broadly.” In an era where the wealth gap is widening, and upward mobility feels increasingly out of reach, nepo babies become more than just envy and gossip, they’re symbols of a system that feels rigged. As Foster puts it: “The worse this picture gets, the less well off each and every one of us becomes.”
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