In an interesting video with Gwyneth Paltrow and Haley Bieber on Bieber’s YouTube show, Paltrow discusses her path to fame and discusses nepotism. Nepotism has had a recent conversation online, as more and more people discover their favorite celebrities who they thought of as “self-made” actually had family relationships within the industry. Paltrow, an actress, for example, is the daughter of a filmmaker and an actress.
“People are ready to pull you down and say ‘You don't belong there’ or ‘You are only there because of your dad or your mom.’” https://t.co/FSpDVVtXJh
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) July 28, 2022
But, she gave a surprising and somewhat controversial take on nepotism and celebrity children, saying “As the child of someone, you get to access other people don’t have, so the playing field is not level in that way. However, I really do feel that once your foot is in the door, which you unfairly got in, then you almost have to work twice as hard and be twice as good.”
Also until you really establish yourself — and the vast majority of actors are not established; they're just not — you're constantly working to get your foot in the door over & over! Nepotism babies have someone who can continually call in favors on their behalf in that process.
— Nina Metz (@Nina_Metz) July 28, 2022
Haley Bieber is also a child of celebrities, the child of Stephen Baldwin, and niece to actors Alec, Daniel, and William Baldwin. Paltrow, the founder of the wellness brand Goop, says children of celebrities might have an easier way into a career with their connections and their last name, but they are more often likely to be scrutinized. “People are ready to pull you down and say, ‘You don’t belong there’ or ‘You are only there because of your dad or your mom,’” she further notes.
And depending on who the famous relation is, people might hire that nepotism baby even if they're not the best actor for the role because the producer/director/studio thinks it'll grease wheels with the kid's parent.
It's OK — important, really — to talk about this reality!!
— Nina Metz (@Nina_Metz) July 28, 2022
On Twitter, people did not exactly like these comments and definitely did not think they rang true. “Nepotism isn’t *just* about getting your foot in the door btw. It’s about having access to info and support others just don’t. Having a family that teaches you how things WORK in Hollywood — and also provides financial support — is as important as anything else,” Nina Metz, a TV, and film critic noted. Many people agreed with this, as some thought this was ignoring the privilege of knowing connections or having an easier way in.
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