“Definitely Because Of Her Parents”: People Stunned Willow Smith Claims She’s Not A “Nepo Baby”
Willow Smith has responded to critics who affirm her success is the result of her famous family.
During an interview with Allure, the 23-year-old, who’s the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, said she doesn’t think she fits the nepo baby mold.
“I truly believe that my spirit is a strong spirit and that, even if my parents weren’t who they were, I would still be a weirdo and a crazy thinker,” Willow said.
The term nepo baby (short for nepotism baby) refers to the child of a famous person (or people) who follows their parent(s) into the creative industries and benefits from their fame or connections.
Willow Smith has responded to critics who affirm she’s a “nepo baby“
Image credits: willowsmith
Other celebrities with famous parents, like Zooey Deschanel and Dakota Johnson, have previously spoken out to reject the label.
Willow entered the industry at a young age, starring in the 2007 film I Am Legend alongside her father before appearing in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl the following year.
The California native launched her music career with her iconic single Whip My Hair, which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2010 and went platinum in the US.
The 23-year-old is the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
Image credits: Doug Peters/Getty Images
While she’s well aware that she’s been given the nepo baby tag on countless occasions, Willow says she uses the criticism as fuel to push herself further.
“I definitely think that a little bit of insecurity has driven me harder because people do think that the only reason I’m successful is because of my parents.
“That has driven me to work really hard to try to prove them wrong. But nowadays, I don’t need to prove sh*t to anybody.”
“I truly believe that my spirit is a strong spirit and that, even if my parents weren’t who they were, I would still be a weirdo and a crazy thinker,” the actress and singer said
Image credits: willowsmith
The term “nepo baby” refers to the child of a famous person (or people) who follows their parent(s) into the creative industries and benefits from their fame or connections
Image credits: willowsmith
Those who attribute her success to her famous parents inspire her to work “very hard to try to prove them wrong,” Willow said
Image credits: willowsmith
Another reason why she rejects the nepotism label is that, despite her parents’ global stardom, she has faced discrimination in the industry for being a Black woman in America.
“There have been some experiences where I went into a place that I have worked in the past, and my picture could even be up on the wall, and they treat me like, ‘This is a little bit out of your price range’ or ‘You don’t really belong here,'” the Transparent Soul singer said.
Willow entered the industry at a young age, starring in the 2007 film I Am Legend alongside her father
Image credits: allure
She continued: “Being Black in America, even with privilege, which I’m never going to deny that I have, you’re still Black. And I love being Black. People would look at me and [say], ‘Okay, well, her parents are this and this and that, but she still is like me. She still has brown skin.’ And we all know that doesn’t exempt you from anything, and that’s a place of connection.”
Willow recently announced her sixth studio album, Empathogen, which will be released on May 3, 2024.
“Willow Smith is the only valid nepo baby ever,” someone commented
She is a complete and total nepo baby, and delusional about herself if she thinks otherwise. End of story.
Exactly. She doesn't identify as a nepo baby, therefore she isn't. Sure. You got a music deal at 12 because of pure luck. You are profiled in an article that is being reprinted internationally because of luck. She used to be an obnoxious child saying stupid, childish things. Now she is a delusional young woman who needs to grow tf up.
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How many other people auditioned for your first film role? Sorry, did you say 'none'? Oh, OK. Your first song was recorded where? Your 'dad's home recording studio' you say? OK. But you're not a nepo baby... got it(!)
This whole family is delusional and so incredibly out of touch they cease to seem even human.
Bless her heart. If she wasn’t Will Smith’s daughter, she might still be talented, a weirdo and a crazy thinker but she would also be working in a bar hustling for a big break like thousands of others equally talented. No record deal, agent or path smoothed for her. These nepo babies are so delusional about the real world. All they have to say is “I’m grateful for the opportunities I have been given and I hope I have made the most of them.”
All that whipping her hair back and forth seems to have done some brain damage.
"i have become famous at age of 12 but not becase my dad, it was because i am so talented my dad put me in a movie, i am not a nepo baby, my father will hear about that" this mich be even worse then that 50 shades of grey chick-what-her-name.... Drew Barrymore was also a nepo baby, talented, but i never heard her boasting that she is self made unique unicorn of the humanity
I can't stand nepo babies who don't appreciate the fact that they are, indeed, nepo babies. You can still be extremely talented and be a nepo baby at the same time. The path was paved for you before you were even born. Be grateful and mindful of those who paved the path before you and how it got paved. You can always start on that path and then forge your own, if you later choose to. There is no way in HELL she would've gotten where she did, without her father's name, talent and history to lay those bricks first. This is the same kind of s**t entitled rich kids do when they fail to acknowledge that they're only rich because of their family/parents and not based on their own merit.
she can have worked hard, but still be the beneficiary of having famous parents, and this is certainly the case here. She's not really even famous for her music. If not for her parents, she likely would not have gotten the breaks that she has, and it's unlikely that anybody would have ever heard of her. She absolutely is a nepo baby. As are Zooey Deschanel and Dakota Johnson.
She is a complete and total nepo baby, and delusional about herself if she thinks otherwise. End of story.
Exactly. She doesn't identify as a nepo baby, therefore she isn't. Sure. You got a music deal at 12 because of pure luck. You are profiled in an article that is being reprinted internationally because of luck. She used to be an obnoxious child saying stupid, childish things. Now she is a delusional young woman who needs to grow tf up.
Load More Replies... How many other people auditioned for your first film role? Sorry, did you say 'none'? Oh, OK. Your first song was recorded where? Your 'dad's home recording studio' you say? OK. But you're not a nepo baby... got it(!)
This whole family is delusional and so incredibly out of touch they cease to seem even human.
Bless her heart. If she wasn’t Will Smith’s daughter, she might still be talented, a weirdo and a crazy thinker but she would also be working in a bar hustling for a big break like thousands of others equally talented. No record deal, agent or path smoothed for her. These nepo babies are so delusional about the real world. All they have to say is “I’m grateful for the opportunities I have been given and I hope I have made the most of them.”
All that whipping her hair back and forth seems to have done some brain damage.
"i have become famous at age of 12 but not becase my dad, it was because i am so talented my dad put me in a movie, i am not a nepo baby, my father will hear about that" this mich be even worse then that 50 shades of grey chick-what-her-name.... Drew Barrymore was also a nepo baby, talented, but i never heard her boasting that she is self made unique unicorn of the humanity
I can't stand nepo babies who don't appreciate the fact that they are, indeed, nepo babies. You can still be extremely talented and be a nepo baby at the same time. The path was paved for you before you were even born. Be grateful and mindful of those who paved the path before you and how it got paved. You can always start on that path and then forge your own, if you later choose to. There is no way in HELL she would've gotten where she did, without her father's name, talent and history to lay those bricks first. This is the same kind of s**t entitled rich kids do when they fail to acknowledge that they're only rich because of their family/parents and not based on their own merit.
she can have worked hard, but still be the beneficiary of having famous parents, and this is certainly the case here. She's not really even famous for her music. If not for her parents, she likely would not have gotten the breaks that she has, and it's unlikely that anybody would have ever heard of her. She absolutely is a nepo baby. As are Zooey Deschanel and Dakota Johnson.
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