Willow Smith is speaking out against those calling her a nepo baby, insisting her famous parents aren’t the sole reason for her success.
Amid a growing debate on the influence of family ties in Hollywood, with stars like Zooey Deschanel and Maya Rudolph also weighing in, Willow Smith has shared her thoughts.
At 23, Willow Camille Reign Smith is not just the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith; she’s also a singer and actor in her own right. Having debuted on screen in I Am Legend with her father, she branched out on her own with roles in The Lorax and has also made waves in the music scene since her 2010 hit ‘Whip My Hair.’
But the question remains: Would her journey have been the same without her well-known parents?
This question has sparked fierce debate online about whether it’s fair to label Willow as a nepo baby.
A user on One X commented, “Jaden and Willow Smith are the most respected nepo babies in my eyes.”
Another countered, “Yes Willow Smith is a nepo baby, but she’s STILL a prodigy, 2 things can be true at once!”
Willow recently addressed the issue herself.
In an exclusive interview with Allure, Willow expressed her opinion that she doesn’t quite fit the nepo baby mold.
For clarity, the Oxford Collins Dictionary defines nepotism as “The unfair use of power in order to get jobs or other benefits for your family or friends.”
Considering her high-profile parents, Willow reflected on their influence on her life and career, telling Allure, “I truly believe my spirit is a strong one, and even if my parents weren’t who they were, I’d still be a weirdo and a crazy thinker.”
She added, “A bit of insecurity about people thinking my parents are the only reason for my success has driven me to work much harder to prove them wrong.
“But nowadays, I feel like I don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”
*Mic drop*
Yet, despite her famous background, Willow noted she still faces prejudice, saying, “There have been times when I’ve been to places I’ve worked before, and despite being recognized, I’m treated as if I don’t belong there because of my skin color.”
She poignantly added, “Being Black in America, even with privilege, which I’ll never deny, still comes with its own struggles.”