Best and Worst Nepo Babies 2022
2022 was the year “Nepo Baby,” a term tossed around online for at least two years has become a household swear word. Hollywood has long employed the sons, daughters, siblings, and cousins of some of its biggest stars. But it only takes a few TikTokers scanning Wikipedia to turn an ancient phenomenon and widely shared information into breaking news — not only that, but something we should all be furious about.
I don’t know how angry the general public actually is about Hollywood’s Nepo Baby craze. But the nickname has taken over celebrity discourse online and in the media this year. His definition has even been expanded to include almost anyone related to a wealthy person, whether employed in the same field or not.
Recently, New York Magazine ran a sensational cover story on the industry trend that included a near-complete taxonomy of Nepo children in music, television, film, and comedy. The hilarious topic appears to have angered several certified Nepo babies, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who penned a ludicrous essay defending her privileged status on Instagram.
For those of us who weren’t born yesterday, yes, nepotism — particularly in industries where the chances of job mobility and financial security are very slim — is a frustrating reality. However, there is only so much we ordinary people can do to dissolve these privileged networks in entertainment and other lucrative fields. (Personally, I’m willing to boycott any Sam Levinson projects that go ahead.)
Unless there’s a revolt, Nepo babies aren’t going anywhere. So why not rank, compare, and categorize them for fun while we focus on rent rates and student loan issuance?
2022 gave us plenty of opportunities to do that as the descendants of Hollywood and fashion royalty emerged and dominated. Maya Hawke was the Netflix queen, returning as Robin in Season 4 of Stranger Things and starring in the well-received comedy film Do Revenge. Curtis had two box office hits — and worked hard for them! – with Everything Everywhere All At Once, for which she will probably receive her first Oscar nomination, and Halloween Ends. And who can forget her numerous guest appearances on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? Rihanna gave birth to her first child. Lily Rose Depp has silenced the haters.
Will one of these spoiled brats (kids!… for some) make our best and worst list for 2022? Let’s see who stood out enough to make the cut.
Best: Bella Hadid
Photo illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty
There’s nothing cooler than when a younger sister grabs her older sister just by being cool. Bella Hadid is the epitome of this phenomenon. This year, the 26-year-old has continued to wear hilariously odd outfits, fronting Paris Fashion Week and speaking out for the Palestinians. She also had a guest role on Season 3 of Hulu’s Ramy, which no one seemed to care about, but at least we have this cool profile! Hadid’s most significant act of service, however, was when she revealed in a Vogue cover story in March that she got a rhinoplasty when she was 14. Is there a person more devastating and glamorous?
Worst: Lily Rose Depp
It’s unclear whether Lily Rose Depp, the daughter of sentient Ashtray Johnny Depp and actress Vanessa Paradis, is a star in the making, though she’s been involved in a number of (relatively unseen) projects. We’ll have to wait until next year to see what weird shit The Weeknd and Sam Levinson make them do on HBO’s The Idol.
However, the 23-year-old managed to anger social media last month when she responded to critics of Nepo Baby in a profile. “The internet cares a lot more about who your family is than the people you cast in stuff,” she told Elle. “You might get your foot in the door, but you still have your foot in the door. After that comes a lot of work.”
Yes, that’s how nepotism works! In the same interview, she also compared your movie star parent putting you with a manager to the child of a doctor who graduated from medical school. Stupid little Nepo baby.
Best: Lori Harvey
Photo illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty
Steve Harvey’s stepdaughter got a lot of hate from strange replies when People announced earlier this year that she’d split from actor Michael B. Jordan. But according to her Instagram, it seems like the 25-year-old is living her best 25-year life, has perfect skin and is attending every fashion event in the world. Harvey may have controversial health and fitness advice, but her overall vibe is inspirational. She is also the rare Nepo baby who largely chooses not to speak, which is an underappreciated trait.
Worst: O’Shea Jackson Jr.
It’s clear that in the coming months, famous people will interpret “nepo baby” the way they interpret the online term “cancel” — any way they want. Like Depp, Ice Cube’s 31-year-old son recently took to Twitter to clarify that he has indeed worked hard in his acting career. “I had to get my ass up and make it work,” he said tweeted. “Of the roles I chose. The work ethic I put into her. My professionalism in sets and promo tours. Even left [his father’s] agency and will look for my own team. Once the door was open, it was up to me to walk through and thrive.”
The whole point of nepotism is that it opens a door for you – even if it’s just a rift that allows you to play your father in a biopic – but OK!
The best: The unborn second child of Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach
It’s just unfair that not one, but two people get the Barbie writers as parents and the rest of us don’t. Aside from being wealthy and well connected, I’m sure Gerwig and Baumbach’s upcoming baby will be blessed with great taste in film and literature, and perhaps Adam Driver as godparents. I’m sorry you were announced on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, but looking forward to your birth!
Worst: Matt Healy
As a pretentious Arctic Monkeys fan, I naturally cringe when I see or hear the words “The 1975”. So imagine my disgust when my Twitter timeline was full of videos of the band’s lead singer Matt Healy accidentally sticking his tongue down the throats of concert-goers — though I appreciate him checking IDs? Still, this man just reminds me of that obnoxious character that Zachary Quinto played in that episode of Girls, the guy who walked around chewing on a toothbrush. And the fact that his mother is a panelist on Loose Women (no shade for this program) makes his filthy rock-god schtick even cornier. I personally have seen enough!
Best: Adonis Graham
This year we learned that Drake’s 5-year-old son is a Francophonist, in addition to being a baby Lebron James. In a viral Instragam video in January, Adonis delivered a dark but hilarious message in French to his father about getting older. “When you’re older, you’re broken,” Adonis later translated. “And you will transform back into space.” So true! Although I have no idea if he speaks French properly or not, his accent work is great. And this curly-haired kid has 10 times the charm of his father.
Worst: Lottie Moss
Photo illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty
This random blonde woman, who turns out to be Kate Moss’ half-sister, could easily have lived in peaceful irrelevance for the rest of her life. But she became an unnecessarily Twitter villain after New York magazine’s recent issue of The Year of the Nepo Baby and online discourse about it seemingly derailed her. In a series of now-deleted tweets, the 24-year-old model gave users this reality check: “Obviously it’s not fair that people who come from famous families get a leg because of this. But guess what? Life isn’t fair.” Thanks, TedCruz!
Best: Kaia Gerber
That year, the daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber went from one extremely hot man (Jacob Elordi) to another (Austin Butler), both of whom happen to play Elvis in movies. Lisa Rinna could only dream of such image-boosting press for Amelia Gray. Gerber also looked great at an otherwise flop at a Met Gala. Congratulations to her!
Worst: John David Washington
Photo illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty
I don’t feel like watching the massive flop of David O. Russell’s Amsterdam. But directors, please stop pouring that block of wood in all your Oscar-baiting movies. Thank you very much!
Best: Sofia Coppola
It’s always fun when a private celebrity joins a social media platform a decade after everyone else and casually kills them. In recent years, it’s been Jake Gyllenhaal on Instagram. But now Sofia Coppola has also joined the photo-sharing app and is showing all those nostalgia accounts how to properly curate a mood board. The Oscar winner was thought to have been approached by A24 to promote her upcoming film Priscilla; It’s everything she posted about while it’s in production. Still, it was fun witnessing their presence on the app.
Worst: Zoe Kravitz
Photo illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty
Reactions to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars revealed that many D-list celebrities and comedians were cops. But nobody showed their bum in a cheesier way than Zoe Kravitz, who decided to shadow Smith and the Oscars for allowing him to “attack people onstage” in a snarky Instagram caption (which has now been deleted) . Did the actress say something inaccurate? no Did we need another hypocritical celebrity dumping a black man while half the internet hurled racist rhetoric at him? Absolutely not.
She was also terrible in The Batman.
Best: Aurora and Sophia Culpo
Not all nepotism babies are born equal. Some have Francis Ford Coppola as a father and can make films or start a wine business using the family vineyard. Others have a sibling who once dated a Jonas Brother and have to build their careers on decades-old headlines. But hard work builds character, and the Culpo sisters had enough likable qualities that I sat down to watch their widely maligned TLC reality show every week. While Olivia was positioned as the Kim Kardashian of the group, Aurora and Sophia came through with the fun digs and sound advice you need from your sisters. It’s unclear if the show will return for a second season or not, but I’m a lifelong Instagram follower!