How Do You Feel About ‘Nepotism Babies’?

Have you ever discovered that one of your favorite TV or movie stars had famous parents? If so, you may have come across a so-called nepotism baby.

To some young people, these “nepo babies” are a source of jealousy and frustration with the way Hollywood hands down power. But to others, the conversation is less about criticism than it is about jokes, memes and even, at moments, admiration.

Meriem Derradji couldn’t help but feel a twinge of betrayal when she discovered that one of her favorite actresses on “Euphoria” was not the self-made up-and-comer she thought her to be.

“She seemed like a regular girl,” said Ms. Derradji, 24, who works in technical support in Montreal. Except for one thing: Her parents, Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow, are Hollywood stalwarts.

In other words, Maude Apatow is a “nepotism baby.”

For centuries, children born into rich, famous and otherwise powerful families have had a leg up in life, inheriting monarchies, business empires, wealth and star power. In some cases they’ve surpassed their parents’ status. This is what most parents wish for their children. It’s also often how power works, especially in Hollywood.

Now, a new generation is finding out that their favorite celebrities, talented as they may be, have benefited from a system that is not strictly meritocratic.

The phrase “nepotism baby” (or the diminutive “nepo baby”) has pervaded social media in earnest expressions of surprise (“just found out…”), envy (“pls god why couldn’t i have been a nepotism baby”) and even admiration (some favorites include Ms. Apatow, Zoë Kravitz and Dakota Johnson). Others are already talking about the next generation of nepotism babies, including the unborn child of Rihanna and ASAP Rocky (“a galactic nepotism legend already,” as one person put it).

The posts have given way to jokes about the 43rd president of the United States (son of the 41st) and Jesus Christ (son of God), inspired in part by Ms. Derradji’s tweet about Ms. Apatow. But to be fair, the family trees of Hollywood luminaries aren’t exactly standard curriculum.

“In some cases, it speaks to generational differences in celebrity familiarity,” said Alice Leppert, an associate professor of media and communication studies at Ursinus College and co-editor of the journal Celebrity Studies. She added that “some of the young stars’ parents are in the industry, but aren’t necessarily A-list actors whose names and faces are widely known.”

Julia Riggieri, 20, said that there are plenty of famous offspring whose talent is obvious to her, including the filmmaker Sofia Coppola, daughter of Francis Ford Coppola. That doesn’t mean she isn’t jealous.

“I think my envy for children of nepotism comes from the freedom that they often have,” said Ms. Riggieri, who lives in Massachusetts. “They are free to follow their creative pursuits in a way that most people are not.”

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Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

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