The internet is once again ablaze with nepotism discourse after another “nepo baby” refuted the nepotism allegations against her, and the “nepo baby” in question is no other than American actress Zooey Deschanel.
Deschanel is best known for her role in the 2003 Christmas film Elf and the 2009 romantic comedy film 500 Days of Summer. She also starred as Jess Day in the television sitcom New Girl which earned her numerous accolades and recognition.
However, Deschanel came from a famous family. Her dad, Caleb Deschanel, is an Oscar-nominee cinematographer and director of film and television. He’s also known for his work on National Treasure, The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Lion King, Twin Peaks, and Law & Order: Trial by Jury, among others.
Her mother, on the other hand, is Mary Jo Deschanel who appeared in Twin Peaks, My Sister’s Keeper, Ruby Sparks, and Criminal Minds.
Despite having illustrious parents, Deschanel rejected the “nepo baby” label given to her and insisted that they didn’t help her catapult to stardom and advance her career in show business.
“It’s funny because people will be like, ‘Oh, nepotism.’ I’m like, ‘No.’ My dad’s a [director of photography]. No one’s getting jobs because their dad’s a DP. It’s definitely not [nepotism],” the Emmy-nominee actress said during her appearance in Lewis Howes’ “The School of Greatness” podcast.
In case you didn’t know, “nepotism babies,” also known as “nepo babies,” is a moniker used to refer to a child of famous and successful celebrities, and whose own success is believed to be connected to their parents’ status.
Deschanel, however, acknowledged how her dad’s creative mind and her mom’s nurturing have helped her in her pursuit of her acting career.
“My mom would coach me when I didn’t have an acting coach, she would help me, and read lines with me. She’d be so supportive,” shared Deschanel.
“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,” she added. “And then having a sister who’s an actor. It just makes you automatically have a community […] [and] that’s so important to keep going.”
Deschanel’s dismissal of her illustrious parents’ role in her career and denial of being a nepo baby was met with mixed reactions from the people on the internet.
While some defended Deschanel for working hard and carving out a career on her own, others criticized her for denying how her upbringing and connections have helped her establish her name in the industry.
Deschanel isn’t the only celebrity who garnered mixed reactions after rejecting how their illustrious background helped them with their career and denying that they’re products of nepotism.
Among the celebrities who refuted the nepotism allegations against them were model Lottie Moss, actress Lily-Rose Depp, singer Lily Allen, and actor and model Damian Hurley.
Other POP! stories that you might like:
Fans delighted as Song Joong-ki makes cameo appearance as Vincenzo in ‘Queen of Tears’
Kirsten Dunst reveals filming the ‘Spider-Man’ upside-down kiss was ‘miserable’
OMEGA X’s former CEO says she was sexually harassed by a member; OMEGA X refutes claims
Some people are starting to question the legitimacy of the Taragis April Fools’ issue
