Lily Allen, renowned for her hit song "F**k You," took a candid stance this week, addressing the increasingly prevalent term "nepo baby" which is used to label Hollywood offspring of famous parents. On her podcast "Miss Me," Allen expressed her thoughts on the terminology, comparing it to the pejorative use of the word "Karen."
"I think 'nepo baby' is similar to 'Karen' in the sense that it's a term primarily applied to women who are seen as taking up too much space, as if we'd prefer they weren't there and just disappear," Allen opined.
The 39-year-old, who hails from a famous family with her father being the renowned British actor Keith Allen and her brother Alfie, also an actor known for his work in "Game of Thrones," further elaborated on the double standard.
"For instance, my brother doesn't get labeled as a 'nepo baby,' but I do," Allen continued. "I actually don't mind the nepotism aspect, it's the 'baby' part that annoys me. I'm nearly 40 years old!"
She went on to criticize the infantilizing nature of the term "baby," pointing out that it's "almost exclusively used for women." Allen added, "I can't even recall any male nepo babies being mentioned."
While acknowledging that there is "an element of truth" to the classification, given her upbringing in a certain social circle and amidst people working in the media, Allen emphasized the gender disparity that bothers her the most.
"Over the past 15 to 20 years, whenever I've been written about, it always seems to mention 'Lily Allen, daughter of Keith Allen,' and I don't see that happening with boys as frequently as it does with girls," she lamented.
Allen speculated that this discrepancy arises from the audience's need to explain "what really put" famous women on the map, whereas male fame often seems self-evident.
When the "nepo baby" discourse gained mainstream attention following a 2022 New York Magazine article, Allen took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her thoughts on the matter. She wrote, "The nepo babies we should truly be concerned about are those working in legal firms, banks, and politics. If we're talking about real-world consequences and stealing opportunities from others, that's where the focus should be. But that's none of my business."
Later, she added, "And before you jump on me for being a nepo baby myself, let me be the first to tell you that I literally deserve nothing." Her candid remarks offer a refreshing perspective on the debate surrounding privilege and fame in the entertainment industry.
