Gwyneth Paltrow Slams “Nepo Baby Culture”: “There’s Nothing Wrong With Doing Or Wanting To Do What Your Parents Do”

Gwyneth Paltrow is putting a pacifier in the mouths of those crying “nepo baby.”

The actress and entrepreneur — who is the daughter of actress Blythe Danner and director and producer Bruce Paltrow — spoke to Bustle about nepo baby culture, which she said has perpetuated a particular “judgment that exists around kids of famous people.”

In the context of her 19-year-old daughter Apple (whom she shares with her ex-husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin), the Iron Man star claimed that she’s “really just a student.”

“She just wants to be a kid and be at school and learn,” she continued. “But there’s nothing wrong with doing or wanting to do what your parents do. Nobody rips on a kid who’s like ‘I want to be a doctor like my dad and granddad.'”

Paltrow noted that for those who “grow up in a house with a lot of artists and people making art and music, that’s what you know.”

“The same way that if you grow up in a house with law, the discussions around the table are about the nuances of whatever particular law the parents practice,” she explained. “I think it’s kind of an ugly moniker.”

According to Variety, a Vulture piece published in December 2022 delving into the “nepo baby” phenomenon has since prompted further discussion of the term. The cover featured the heads of famous “nepo babies” — including Lily Collins, Ben Platt, and Zoë Kravitz — attached to baby bodies.

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Other self-proclaimed “nepo babies” have taken a similar stance to Paltrow, such as Hailey Bieber — daughter of Stephen Baldwin and Kennya Baldwin — who memorably was photographed in a crop top with the words “Nepo Baby” printed on it in January. Paltrow even commented on an InStyle Instagram post of the photo, “I might need a few of these.”

Even more recently, Ethan Hawke and his daughter Maya Hawke talked to Variety about their collaboration on the upcoming indie film Wildcat. Maya, who stars in the movie, said at the time that she had “moments of insecurity” filming under her father’s direction.

“If someone wants to criticize us for working together, that’s totally fair,” she added. “You have to let people have their opinion. You just have to try to do a good job when you’re onstage.”

Ethan even deemed himself as a “nepo dad,” telling the publication, “And I’m not embarrassed about it!”

Like the Hawkes, many stars have taken the term in stride. Kelly Ripa recently joked on Live with Kelly and Mark that her and Mark Consuelos‘ “nepo baby” children can “go as themselves” for Halloween this year.

“‘What should we wear?’ Nothing,” Consuelos chimed in.