We’ve lost the ability to think critically and logically before we cancel someone, it seems. As of right now, someone’s familial status places them at the apex of the cancel culture hierarchy. We have to ask: Is nepo baby critique a necessary examination of power and privilege, or a sorry excuse for cyberbullying?
Let’s take a look at Gracie Abrams, for example. Gracie, a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, is the daughter of prominent Hollywood icon, J.J. Abrams. We have Abrams to thank for the resurgence of the Star Wars franchise, as he produced and directed the newest films from the late 2010s. Not to mention, he also directed Mission Impossible III and Star Trek and co-created the TV series Lost. Needless to say, the man is well connected.
His daughter, Gracie, started publishing music on SoundCloud at age 13, and by 20, signed with Interscope Records, a label home to big names like Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, Sting, Eminem, Olivia Rodrigo, and many more. In 2020, Gracie released her debut EP, minor.
Now, we have to ask: Did Gracie earn this success on her own merit, or through the connections of her director, producer, and writer father who holds much of Hollywood at his fingertips?
In my opinion, and I welcome disagreement if you feel it’s valid, Gracie is an incredibly talented artist who grew up in one of the largest and most affluent music hubs in the world. Of course, she was bound to form a love for an industry she grew up around. I can speak from my own experience and say that my love for performance and film has been greatly influenced by my childhood in Los Angeles.
We cannot fault someone for the connections they were born with. First of all, it’s not their choice to be born into an industry family, and second, every field has nepo babies. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry bears the brunt of judgement because it is so publicly accessible to the rest of the world.
If someone’s father or mother is a lawyer, and their child expresses an interest in law, of course they’re going to use the ties they have to further their child’s career. It is only natural.
There are some cases in which someone has not worked for an opportunity and gets a position over someone else who might be more qualified. I’ve been on the receiving end of that spectrum many times, and it’s always incredibly frustrating. Yet, it’s completely out of my control. I can be upset about it all I want, but at the end of the day, my attitude won’t change things.
The truth is, a connection will get your foot in the door in any career path, but whether you earn a seat at the table and maintain it depends on your own talent and willingness to work. We can recognize that Gracie had a leg up without dismissing her talent or treating her success as entirely undeserved. Criticism of privilege is necessary; harassment is not.