Nepotism, defined as the practice of people with influence favoring relatives or loved ones, especially by giving them jobs, has been seen throughout human history with many important historical figures, but as of recent times, it has become more common in the entertainment and sports industries. This rise in nepotism has made people begin to question if “Nepo babies” are fit to actually be in the position they are in.
Jaden Smith and the Film Industry
Oscar-winning actor Will Smith is renowned for his roles in movies and his Grammy award-winning rapping career. In one of his most riveting films, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” Will Smith had a special opportunity to bring his son, Jaden Smith, in for one of the roles. This resulted in Jaden Smith’s casting in more movies like “The Karate Kid,” “After Earth,” “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” and “Life in a Year.” After the release of “After Earth” (a collaboration with his father), Jaden Smith’s acting capabilities came under serious scrutiny. The movie won six Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies), a parody award for the worst cinematic performances. The awards included Jaden Smith winning Worst Actor, Will Smith winning Worst Supporting Actor, Will and Jaden Smith winning Worst Screen Combo, along with the other awards of Worst Director and Worst Screenplay. The movie was also nominated by other film critics as the worst movie of the year, and Jaden Smith’s performance was considered lifeless and wooden. One bad performance does not make an actor’s entire career a waste, but it does bring up an important question: How much of an advantage does a product of nepotism have over others in their respective industries?
Bronny James and the Sports Industry:
Lebron James Sr. is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. This past NBA G League season, James’ son Lebron “Bronny” James Jr. scored a career high of 32 points for the South Bay Lakers, averaging 22 points in eleven games. However, his statistics in college were quite different. He averaged only 4.8 points per game in 19.3 minutes per game, which are considered to be fairly unimpressive numbers. Still, he was drafted with the 55th pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Here’s a look at two other players drafted out of college with the 55th pick in the NBA draft:
Isaiah Wong 22-23 University of Miami
Points: 16.2 per game
Rebounds: 4.3 per game
Assists: 3.2 per game
Steals: 1.4 per game
Aaron Wiggins 20-21 University of Maryland
Points: 14.5 per game
Rebounds: 5.8 per game
Assists: 2.5 per game
Steals: 1.1 per game
These two players are statistically more impressive than Bronny, yet they were drafted in the same position as him. Wiggins has proved his worth, aiding his team to win the NBA Finals in 2025. Wong did not fare well in the NBA and is now playing overseas; however, while he was in the league, he averaged 6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in 13 minutes on a 39% field goal percentage. This just goes to show how talented one has to be to get drafted into the NBA, and Bronny James has not statistically matched these standards. However, Bronny’s production in the G League may prove otherwise, and it is important to consider the fact that Bronny suffered cardiac arrest before his college year at USC. It is still evident that overall, he likely would not have gotten drafted without his name.
Gracie Abrams and the Music Industry:
J.J. Abrams is a famous writer, director, and producer for popular sci-fi movies like the 2009 version of “Star Trek” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Abrams’ wife, Katie McGrath, is an actress and the current CEO of Bad Robot. Their daughter, singer and songwriter Gracie Abrams, has had massive success so far in her career and passed 50 million monthly listeners on Spotify this past January. Gracie Abrams is a talented musician in her own right, having been nominated for two Grammys, so why is she on the list with the other two celebrities? Although her parents are involved in the film industry, they were still able to use the connections they had gained in order to set Gracie up for success. “There are a million visible and even more invisible advantages to having family members who are in any entertainment industry”, Abrams said in an interview with Rolling Stone. Gracie’s numbers speak for themselves, but would her talent have been recognized if she had not had parents who are already successful in the entertainment industry?
Overall, people who benefit from nepotism can still be talented and can deserve to be in the successful positions they are in. Gracie Abrams was nominated for a Grammy and has showcased real talent, and Bronny James has been excellent in the NBA G League despite having a lackluster college career. That doesn’t mean that all “Nepo babies” are talented: Jaden Smith’s acting career is a joke. But in the end, it is important to note that people who have familial connections in their respective industries give them an enormous (and unfair) advantage over those who don’t.
