The “Nepo Baby” Obsession: A Mirror of Our Desires

How nepo-babies are a window into all the things we want but can’t have.

By Sofia Galarneau

Image by Diya Kapoor

From Romy Mars to Hailey Bieber, everyone wants what they cannot have.

I recently had a baffling conversation with someone who genuinely believed that “nepo-babies” owe the world an apology for their privilege.

This conversation got me thinking: why do the children of the rich and relevant spark so much public outrage?

People are either obsessed with “nepo-babies” and want to be them, or they resent their entire existence … and yet, still want to be them.

Nepo-babies have always existed, yet this term has increasingly been entering society’s discourse. If your fame feels inherited rather than earned, society is ready to slap on the “nepo-baby” label. Is this fair?

We crave three qualities of the “nepo-baby”: power, privilege and visibility.

Logically speaking, it’s hard to blame a “nepo-baby” for having a parent in the same industry—it’s a circumstance, not a choice.  After all, in the words of Lenny Kravitz’s daughter Zoe in her interview with GQ, “ it is completely normal for people to be in the family business."

Let’s face it: people aren’t wired for logic. We’re messy, emotional and fiercely inconsistent. So, when people see Lily Rose Depp gracing the runway at Paris Fashion Week or representing Chanel as a brand ambassador, it stirs a deep frustration. It’s less about talent, and more about the family tree and the perception that her success was handed to her.

The outrage toward “nepo-babies” often masks a quieter envy—the ache of seeing someone live the dream you were never offered: “Why could that not be me?”

I understand;  I’ve felt that way myself. It’s easy to forget, amid the envy and criticism, that these individuals are human beings first. Their parents may be powerful or famous, but that doesn’t make them immune to insecurity, pressure or the need to prove themselves. They don’t choose their lineage—only how they respond to it.

We cannot demonize someone just because we want their lifestyle.

We must shift our gaze inward, finding gratitude in what’s ours and grace in what’s not. Some doors were never meant to open.

I guarantee you will no longer feel so angry towards Maude Apatow or Patrick Schwarzenegger if you focus on what will make you happy—instead of what you cannot change.