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People Fume Over Zooey Deschanel Denying She’s A Nepo Baby
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People Fume Over Zooey Deschanel Denying She’s A Nepo Baby

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Zooey Deschanel denied being a “nepo baby,” stating that her family connections in the film industry didn’t aid her acting career. Her remark prompted significant backlash on social media, with people highlighting her parents’ notable achievements within the show-biz industry.

The New Girl star recently appeared on The School of Greatness podcast, where she attempted to debunk her speculated privileges in Hollywood.

Highlights
  • Zooey Deschanel denied being a 'nepo baby', sparking backlash on social media.
  • Zooey credits her parents' creative influence, but claims no career advantages.
  • Her father, Caleb, a 6-time Oscar nominee, influenced her artistic growth.

She told podcast host Lewis Howes: “It’s funny because people be like, ‘Oh, nepotism,’ I’m like, ‘No.'”

“My dad’s a DP [director of photography, another term for cinematographer].

“No one’s getting jobs because their dad’s a DP. It’s definitely not.”

Zooey Deschanel recently denied being a nepo baby despite admitting her father was a cinematographer and her mother was an actress

Image credits: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

Zooey’s father, Caleb Deschanel, is an American cinematographer and director of film and television who has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography six times.

He is a member of the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress, representing the American Society of Cinematographers.

Caleb has been credited for his photography work in Titanic and The Godfather, as well as being a cinematographer for The Lion King and The Passion of the Christ, in addition to a handful of other accolades.

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Zooey did admit that she had benefitted from her family in a creative sense, saying: “My mum is an actor, and my dad is a cinematographer and a director.

“I can’t possibly emphasize enough how much creative help I had from my family unit.

“My dad is a great creative mind and such a talented person. 

“My mum is a great actor and is so nurturing. 

“My mum would coach me when I didn’t have an acting coach, she would help me, read lines with me. She’d be so supportive.”

Image credits: Lewis Howes/The School of Greatness

Mary Jo Deschanel, Zoey’s mother, is an American actress who notably appeared in the 1983 film The Right Stuff and the television series Twin Peaks between 1990 and 1991.

The 44-year-old alleged non-nepo baby continued: “I would have so many great discussions about film and filmmaking with my dad.

“They both would help me.

“My dad would also read lines with me and give directions.

“Then having a sister who’s an actor.

“It just makes you automatically have a community, and how much our communities help us – whether it’s our families or our found communities.”

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Zoey’s father, Caleb Deschanel, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography six times

Image credits: Jesse Grant/Getty Images

Emily Deschanel, Zoey’s older sister, is a famous actress who played Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan in the popular crime series Bones from 2005 to 2017.

Zoey’s comments about her family connections in Hollywood sparked some backlash, as a YouTube user wrote: “Her dad was a 6 time Oscar nominated cinematographer.. she most definitely had advantages.. she definitely worked hard to get where she’s at and is a great actor. 

“But don’t be fooled.”

Another person commented: “Imagine saying you had no advantages then explaining all your advantages.”

A separate individual chimed in: “…but she is a nepo baby?”

You can watch Zoey’s controversial statement below:

Image credits: Lewis Howes/The School of Greatness

Nepo baby is short for nepotism baby, which is a term referring to celebrities whose parents have succeeded in the same careers.

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The implication is that because their parents already have connections in the industry, the nepo baby has the privilege to use those connections to build a career in that industry.

According to a 2002 article published by The New York Times, Zooey was brought up in Los Angeles, USA, spending her early years on the sets of her father’s films, like The Right Stuff and Being There.

She attended Crossroads, a private Los Angeles prep school, where the high school pals included Hollywood progeny like Jake Gyllenhaal, The Times reported at the time.

Bored Panda has contacted Zoey’s representatives for comment.

Zoey’s claims continued to ignite negative reactions

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Andréa Oldereide

Andréa Oldereide

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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Andréa Oldereide

Andréa Oldereide

Writer, BoredPanda staff

I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

Karina Babenok

Karina Babenok

Author, BoredPanda staff

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As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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Karina Babenok

Karina Babenok

Author, BoredPanda staff

As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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dan lynaugh
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The ability to know people in any industry is a Huge advantage when trying to break into any industry. Also, growing up rich never hurts. All celebrities just need to acknowledge that famous parents may have helped them get a foot in the door, but you need something to continue to remain employed in any industry.

WonderWoman
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who cares? Well anyone hoping to break into the industry. Zooey is suggesting that anyone with talent can make it in the industry. They don't need parents who know people who know people, who can send you to the better agents, who can run lines with you, etc. Zooey is being disingenuous in her comments. Hollywood is a very tight and small community and if you don't know people, your chances are microscopic of making it.

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dan lynaugh
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The ability to know people in any industry is a Huge advantage when trying to break into any industry. Also, growing up rich never hurts. All celebrities just need to acknowledge that famous parents may have helped them get a foot in the door, but you need something to continue to remain employed in any industry.

WonderWoman
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who cares? Well anyone hoping to break into the industry. Zooey is suggesting that anyone with talent can make it in the industry. They don't need parents who know people who know people, who can send you to the better agents, who can run lines with you, etc. Zooey is being disingenuous in her comments. Hollywood is a very tight and small community and if you don't know people, your chances are microscopic of making it.

Load More Comments
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