Latest news with #nepobabies
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nepo babies' not-so-humble brag about their status and generational wealth as they embrace label in new trend - but can you guess who their famous parents are?
Nepo babies have really been in the hot seat over the last year - and now rather than rebuffing the identity, they are bragging about it. In a new online trend, the offspring of the rich and famous are making their celebrity-heir status known thanks to the basketball term 'air ball' - a missed basket. Among the nepo babies jumping on the trend are Ava Phillippe, the daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, Francesca Scorsese and Jackson 5 star Randy Jackson's daughter Zoë. But perhaps winning the trend is Alianna Thiam - given that her dad Akon sings on the track being overlaid on the clips, Soul Survivor. The clips show the nepo babies turn the joke on you for making an 'airball' - a very wrong, and seriously underestimated, assumption about what their parents do for work. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Taking to TikTok, Senegalese-American singer Akon's daughter Alianna shared a picture of himself with the caption: 'Told him my dad was in the music industry.' In the next slide, Alianna could be seen taking a mirror selfie in a lavish apartment as she added a caption with her hypothetical date's response: 'He said "Oh like a manager?"' In a mic drop moment, Alianna's final slide is a sweet picture of her hugging her famous father. Holyfknairball was hashtagged to call out the date's conversational missed basket. Meanwhile Reese's daughter Ava shared a selfie writing: 'I told him my mom's a lawyer. ' The next snap showed Ava and her mum on the set of the iconic film Legally Blonde, with the hypothetical person's very incorrect response mistakenly assuming she means an actual lawyer. The caption on the clip reads 'He said "Oh what firm does she work at?",' and the third slide is the movie poster of Legally Blonde with 'air ball' written over the top. 'Her law degree may not be real... but she did go to Stanford for a bit,' Ava captioned the post. Next up was American Idol judge Randy Jackson's daughter Zoë who put her own spin on the trend by leaving it ambiguous as to what kind of judge he is. 'I told him my dad was a judge,' she said in the first clip, writing in the second: 'He said "Cool! At which court"' She then added a snap of her dad on the talent show. 'It's gonna be a YES for me Dawg,' Zoë captioned her take. And Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese's daughter Francesca also got in on the action - saying she was 'told to do this trend'. 'I told him "My dad is a filmmaker". He said "Oh nice like for commercials or something?",' before dropping a photo of the iconic director. The term nepo baby was coined by a Twitter user in 2022 who was shocked to learn their favourite actress had famous parents. It sparked a fierce debate on whether the children of the rich and famous have been getting an unfair leg up. But the nepo baby path to fame doesn't always run smooth, with many forced to try their hand at several showbiz careers until they find one that sticks. In stark contrast to the air ball trend, some celebrity offspring have taken issue with being branded as such, with TV presenting duo Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan's daughter Chloe going as far as to call the phrase a 'dirty word'. Phoenix Brown, the daughter of Spice Girl Mel B, also recently slammed the 'febrile and poisonous' debate around nepo babies' success in the entertainment industry. She made headlines when she hosted an art exhibition only for it to be a ruse as part of a documentary on nepo babies. 'I told him my dad was a judge,' she said in the first clip, writing in the second: 'He said "Cool! At which court"' She then added a snap of her dad on the talent show Daughter of Spice Girl Mel B, Phoenix Brown, 25, is fronting Channel 4 documentary Born in the Limelight - Nepo Babies: Untold, which first aired in October, and returns to screens again next Thursday. In the documentary Phoenix pretends to reinvent herself as an artist, using her mother's name to stage an exhibition. She sells a painting for £2,000 - but an experts admits that without her famous name it would only be worth £30. But despite admitting that having Mel B as her mum has 'opened doors', Phoenix warns that the levels of 'hate' for nepo babies has never been so high following public obsession with the concept. Meanwhile Brooklyn Beckham's rise to nepo baby success comes after years of being the butt off the joke as he tried to launch various showbiz careers. The eldest child of David and Victoria Beckham has taken jibes in the past over his career changes, having first tried to follow in his footballer father's steps before becoming an aspiring photographer and trying his hand at becoming a chef. In 2017, the then-aspiring photographer released a book named What I See. While in 2020, he was also said to have signed to a major modelling agency, after receiving criticism over his photography. Speaking to Grazia in November, Brooklyn addressed the nepo baby criticism, as he said: 'Obviously I am one. But I couldn't help how I was born, at all.' While he understands why the public can feel irked by nepo babies, Brooklyn said he tries to ignore the 'rubbish' people say rather than dwell on it. He added: 'There's always going to be people that say rubbish. But as long as you do something that makes you happy and you're kind to people, that's all that matters. I'm always gonna get it, no matter what I do. And I'm fine with that. It makes me work harder, because I'm like, I'm gonna prove these people wrong.' When Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban 's daughter Sunday Rose, 16, made her catwalk debut for MiuMiu it didn't get quite the breathless reception the brand was expecting. The teenager's 'stomping' went viral on social media, with people critiquing her style and saying that she looked like a 'petulant child'. Her country singer father Keith, 57, jumped to her defence, and told People Magazine he is 'very proud' of his teen daughter but wants to protect her. Kate Moss's half-sister Lottie has also declared she is 'sick of people blaming nepotism for why they aren't rich and famous or successful'. Lottie signed with Storm Management when she was just 14 years old and threw herself into modelling, but decided to quit photoshoots for OnlyFans in 2021. Amid a storm of nepo baby criticism in 2022, Lottie said: 'I'm so sick of people blaming nepotism for why they aren't rich and famous or successful - obviously it's not fair that people who come from famous families are getting a leg up because of that but guess what? 'Life isn't fair - if you put your mind to something you can accomplish anything! So instead of being negative about other people's success go and try and create your own!' And while it was always her ambition to follow in her parents Richard and Judy's footsteps and go into television, Chloe Madeley revealed she 'hates' being branded a nepo baby - and went as far as to describe it as a 'dirty word'. Speaking to Olivia Attwood on the latest episode of her podcast, So Wrong It's Right, Chloe said she finds it hard when people criticise her for being a child of nepotism. She said: 'Nepo baby is such a dirty word, and people don't realise how hard it is to hear that about yourself, when you're on the receiving end of it.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nepo babies humble brag about status and generational wealth in viral 'holy airball' TikTok trend - and guess who their famous parents really are?
Nepo babies have really been in the hot seat over the last year - and now rather than rebuffing the identity, they are bragging about it. In a new online trend, the offspring of the rich and famous are making their celebrity-heir status known thanks to the basketball term 'air ball' - a missed basket. Among the nepo babies jumping on the trend are Ava Phillippe, the daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, Francesca Scorsese and Jackson 5 star Randy Jackson's daughter Zoë. But perhaps winning the trend is Alianna Thiam - given that her dad Akon sings on the track being overlaid on the clips, Soul Survivor. The clips show the nepo babies turn the joke on you for making an 'airball' - a very wrong, and seriously underestimated, assumption about what their parents do for work. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Taking to TikTok, Senegalese-American singer Akon's daughter Alianna shared a picture of himself with the caption: 'Told him my dad was in the music industry.' In the next slide, Alianna could be seen taking a mirror selfie in a lavish apartment as she added a caption with her hypothetical date's response: 'He said "Oh like a manager?"' In a mic drop moment, Alianna's final slide is a sweet picture of her hugging her famous father. Holyfknairball was hashtagged to call out the date's conversational missed basket. Meanwhile Reese's daughter Ava shared a selfie writing: 'I told him my mom's a lawyer. ' The next snap showed Ava and her mum on the set of the iconic film Legally Blonde, with the hypothetical person's very incorrect response mistakenly assuming she means an actual lawyer. The caption on the clip reads 'He said "Oh what firm does she work at?",' and the third slide is the movie poster of Legally Blonde with 'air ball' written over the top. 'Her law degree may not be real... but she did go to Stanford for a bit,' Ava captioned the post. Next up was American Idol judge Randy Jackson's daughter Zoë who put her own spin on the trend by leaving it ambiguous as to what kind of judge he is. 'Her law degree may not be real... but she did go to Stanford for a bit,' Ava captioned the post 'I told him my dad was a judge,' she said in the first clip, writing in the second: 'He said "Cool! At which court"' She then added a snap of her dad on the talent show. 'It's gonna be a YES for me Dawg,' Zoë captioned her take. And Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese's daughter Francesca also got in on the action - saying she was 'told to do this trend'. 'I told him "My dad is a filmmaker". He said "Oh nice like for commercials or something?",' before dropping a photo of the iconic director. The term nepo baby was coined by a Twitter user in 2022 who was shocked to learn their favourite actress had famous parents. It sparked a fierce debate on whether the children of the rich and famous have been getting an unfair leg up. But the nepo baby path to fame doesn't always run smooth, with many forced to try their hand at several showbiz careers until they find one that sticks. In stark contrast to the air ball trend, some celebrity offspring have taken issue with being branded as such, with TV presenting duo Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan's daughter Chloe going as far as to call the phrase a 'dirty word'. Phoenix Brown, the daughter of Spice Girl Mel B, also recently slammed the 'febrile and poisonous' debate around nepo babies' success in the entertainment industry. She made headlines when she hosted an art exhibition only for it to be a ruse as part of a documentary on nepo babies. 'It's gonna be a YES for me Dawg,' Zoë captioned her take Daughter of Spice Girl Mel B, Phoenix Brown, 25, is fronting Channel 4 documentary Born in the Limelight - Nepo Babies: Untold, which first aired in October, and returns to screens again next Thursday. In the documentary Phoenix pretends to reinvent herself as an artist, using her mother's name to stage an exhibition. She sells a painting for £2,000 - but an experts admits that without her famous name it would only be worth £30. But despite admitting that having Mel B as her mum has 'opened doors', Phoenix warns that the levels of 'hate' for nepo babies has never been so high following public obsession with the concept. Meanwhile Brooklyn Beckham's rise to nepo baby success comes after years of being the butt off the joke as he tried to launch various showbiz careers. The eldest child of David and Victoria Beckham has taken jibes in the past over his career changes, having first tried to follow in his footballer father's steps before becoming an aspiring photographer and trying his hand at becoming a chef. In 2017, the then-aspiring photographer released a book named What I See. While in 2020, he was also said to have signed to a major modelling agency, after receiving criticism over his photography. Speaking to Grazia in November, Brooklyn addressed the nepo baby criticism, as he said: 'Obviously I am one. But I couldn't help how I was born, at all.' While he understands why the public can feel irked by nepo babies, Brooklyn said he tries to ignore the 'rubbish' people say rather than dwell on it. He added: 'There's always going to be people that say rubbish. But as long as you do something that makes you happy and you're kind to people, that's all that matters. I'm always gonna get it, no matter what I do. And I'm fine with that. It makes me work harder, because I'm like, I'm gonna prove these people wrong.' When Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban 's daughter Sunday Rose, 16, made her catwalk debut for MiuMiu it didn't get quite the breathless reception the brand was expecting. The teenager's 'stomping' went viral on social media, with people critiquing her style and saying that she looked like a 'petulant child'. Her country singer father Keith, 57, jumped to her defence, and told People Magazine he is 'very proud' of his teen daughter but wants to protect her. Kate Moss's half-sister Lottie has also declared she is 'sick of people blaming nepotism for why they aren't rich and famous or successful'. Lottie signed with Storm Management when she was just 14 years old and threw herself into modelling, but decided to quit photoshoots for OnlyFans in 2021. Amid a storm of nepo baby criticism in 2022, Lottie said: 'I'm so sick of people blaming nepotism for why they aren't rich and famous or successful - obviously it's not fair that people who come from famous families are getting a leg up because of that but guess what? 'Life isn't fair - if you put your mind to something you can accomplish anything! So instead of being negative about other people's success go and try and create your own!' And while it was always her ambition to follow in her parents Richard and Judy's footsteps and go into television, Chloe Madeley revealed she 'hates' being branded a nepo baby - and went as far as to describe it as a 'dirty word'. Speaking to Olivia Attwood on the latest episode of her podcast, So Wrong It's Right, Chloe said she finds it hard when people criticise her for being a child of nepotism.
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meet the Anti-Nepo Babies: Kids of Hollywood stars who've chosen to pursue careers outside of the spotlight
Hollywood has been besieged by nepo babies in the last few years, capitalizing on their parents' fame and connection to forge their own A-list careers. Actors like Maya Hawke (daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman), Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis) and Jack Quaid (son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan), are to name just a select few. Last month, actor Ben Affleck made headlines by revealing his oldest two kids - 19-year-old Violet and 16-year-old Fin both have 'regular jobs ' - despite his and ex Jennifer Garner's storied Hollywood careers. The 52-year-old actor also shares 13-year-old Samuel with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, with the teen going viral after asking his multimillionaire father for a pair of Dior Air Jordan 1 sneakers which cost $6K - which Affleck denied. For every famed nepo baby there are also an array of other celebrity offspring who have forged surprisingly normal paths outside of fame - including Arnold Schwarzenegger's realtor son Joseph Baena, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's artist daughter Bella and Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa's firefighter son Samuel. Now, lists the top 10 Anti-Nepo babies... Hollywood has been besieged by nepo babies in the last few years, capitalizing on their parents' fame and connection to forge their own A-list careers - including Johnny Depp's daughter Lily Rose (L) and Meg Ryan's son Jack Quaid (R) JOSEPH BAENA - Son of Arnold Schwarzenegger Occupation: Real Estate Agent Banea, 27, was thrust into the spotlight when it was revealed that he was the son of Schwarzenegger, 77, and his former maid Mildred Patricia "Patty" Peña, in 2011. At first, it seemed he may have tried to follow his father's fame, appearing in a 2016 short film 'remake' of Terminator 2, playing his father's iconic Terminator character. He also seemed keen on following Arnold's bodybuilding footsteps as well, frequently spotted at the iconic Gold's Gym in Venice while dabbling in fitness modeling here and there. The hulking 6-foot-2-inch Baena even appeared on ABC's Dancing With the Stars in 2022, paired with Daniella Karagach, though the duo were eliminated in 11th place. While he's still pursuing both fitness and acting, Baena also got educated, graduating from Pepperdine University in 2019 with a degree in business. He used that degree to break into the realtor world, passing the state boards and earning his State of California Realtor's License in 2022. The multi-talented Baena is affiliated with Aria Properties, with a separate Instagram handle - @ - devoted just to his real estate ventures, including a $1.365 million sale he made for a Santa Monica condo in November 2024. Although the realtor is still acting - with three films in various stages of production including Dog Patrol with Cuba Gooding Jr. (September 26, 2025) - Baena is quite comfortable away from the spotlight as well. MERCY JAMES - Daughter of Madonna Occupation: Makeup Artist Assistant While Madonna's most famous child Lourdes has followed her mother into the spotlight as a model and singer, her 19-year-old daughter Mercy James has not. The 66-year-old singer first applied to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James from Malawi in May 2009, though the African country rejected the application because Madonna did not live there. She re-applied a month later and in June 2009 she officially adopted her daughter, who has been quietly working as a makeup artist assistant. She has also been dabbling in other artistic pursuits, with Madonna calling her, 'a talented musician, an accomplished photographer and honestly, the most sensible of all my children,' in a post celebrating her 19th birthday in January. 'You are the one that everyone goes to for advice, or a shoulder to cry on. You hold a special place in the hearts of everyone that knows you. Especially me,' Madonna added. Little is known who she works for, though her Instagram has posts from London, Greece and Tokyo over the last year. She has also been working for her mother's foundation Raising Malawi, with a hospital in her homeland named for her - The Mercy James Centre. It's unclear if Mercy James has plans on following her singing ambitions into a career like her mother before her. SURI CRUISE - Daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes Occupation: College Student Suri became a household name a birth, when her parents Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes welcomed her in April 2006, though she seems content out of the spotlight. She was the only child of Cruise and Holmes, who were married from 2006 to 2012, and practically grew up in the spotlight. The 19-year-old, like so many nepo babies before her, has dabbled in creative pursuits while growing up. Suri starred in several high school plays, including starring roles like Morticia Addams in The Addams Family: A New Musical. She also made her pro singing debut, performing a cover of Blue Moon, which played over the opening credits of her mother's 2022 film Alone Together, which Katie starred in and directed. Suri is currently a freshman college student at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, studying in their prestigious School of Drama. While her major has not been publicly declared, Katie did tell Town and Country that Suri plans to study acting and dance. If she does decide to pursue an acting career, it seems she wants to forge her own path through her education. BELLA KIDMAN CRUISE - Daughter of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman Occupation: Artist Tom Cruise's oldest child - 32-year-old daughter Bella - has shied away from the spotlight as well. Tom and his then-wife Nicole Kidman welcomed Bella in December 1992, though despite the massive star power of her parents, Bella has rarely found the spotlight. Both Cruise and Kidman have respected her privacy, with Kidman stating in 2018, 'I'm very private about all that. I have to protect all those relationships. I know 150% that I would give up my life for my children because it's what my purpose is.' While her parents continue to star in huge movies and TV shows, Bella has found her calling as an artist. She maintains her own website - - where she sells art prints, t-shirts-pins and tote bags. Bella does have a verified Instagram with over 56K followers, she hasn't posted in nearly a year, since early July 2024. While Bella doesn't seem to be following either parent into acting, she did follow father Tom into Scientology. She said in a 2019 letter that Scientology was 'exactly what I needed' as she trained to be an auditor. RUBY GUEST - Daughter of Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest Occupation: Video Editor Jamie Lee Curtis and husband Christopher Guest adopted two daughters - Annie (born in 1986) and Ruby (born in 1996), with Ruby straying from the spotlight. Ruby did make headlines in 2021 when she came out as trans, with both parents strongly supporting the decision. Jamie Lee admitted in 2021, 'It's speaking a new language. It's learning new terminology and words. I am new at it. I am not someone who is pretending to know much about it.' She added, 'And I'm going to blow it, I'm going to make mistakes. I would like to try to avoid making big mistakes.' It's been reported that she works as a video editor for a YouTube gaming personality, though that gaming personality has not been identified. Guest opened up about coming out in a 2023 interview with Into More about her advice for trans people coming out. 'It all depends. Different people have different situations. Some, by hiding themselves, might be safe. But if you don't think you're going to get kicked out of your house or if you don't think you're going to be in mortal danger…then come out, because you'll feel much more relieved, even if it's just to your friends,' she said. 'Or tell someone you trust. Then you can start out on your path, which includes letting everyone know what your preferred pronouns are,' she added. JACK DEPP - Son of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis Occupation: Bartender Daily Mail revealed in December that Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis' son Jack has been working as a bartender in Paris. The 22-year-old is the youngest of the two children shared by Depp, 61, and Paradis, who were married from 1998 to 2012, with the other being 25-year-old actress Lily-Rose Depp. Unlike his big sister, Jack has eschewed the actor lifestyle his parents and sister have embraced, working in a trendy Lebanese restaurant called L'Area in the Bastille quarter. Daily Mail's report from December revealed that Jack was, 'working shifts behind the bar and also in the downstairs kitchen rustling up a mean mixed mezze.' There have been pictures of him working at the restaurant posted on their social media pages, along with footage of Lily-Rose making drinks behind the bar. Jack spent two years working in L'Area before leaving, but owner Edouard Chueke expects him to return later next year. Mr Chueke told MailOnline: 'Jack is a great guy; he keeps out of the limelight, but worked here behind the bar and in the kitchen. 'He was a good employee, he left a few months ago but I expect him back later next year. Good staff are hard to find,' Chueke said. The 22-year-old is the youngest of the two children shared by Depp, 61, and Paradis, who were married from 1998 to 2012, with the other being 25-year-old actress Lily-Rose Depp SAM SPRINGSTEEN - Son of Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa Occupation: Firefighter Bruce Springsteen is about as iconic an American singer as it gets, though none of his three children pursued the limelight. The 75-year-old rocker and his 71-year-old wife welcomed three children, Evan, 34, Jessica, 33 and Samuel, 31. Evan was the only one of the kids to follow a musical career, working as a music programmer, currently with Apple and previously at Sirius XM. The middle child Jessica became an Olympic equestrian, winning a silver medal in the team competition, who is also a professional show jumper and brand ambassador for Polo by Ralph Lauren and Gucci. However it was Sam that truly embraced his father's blue collar mentality, becoming a firefighter for Jersey City, New Jersey in 2021. It wasn't an easy road to get there either, with Sam graduating from Monmouth County Fire Academy in 2014 and working as a volunteer firefighter for three different stations before getting the job in Jersey City. 'It was a long road, he's very dedicated, quite a few years and we are just excited for him today,' Sam's proud father Bruce said in 2021. He also has the distinction of making The Boss a grandfather, welcoming daughter Lily Harper with his wife, Alex Reph, in 2022. IRELAND BALDWIN - Daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger Occupation: Homemaker in Oregon Ireland Baldwin at first seemed poised to follow in her mother's footsteps before retreating from Los Angeles for a quiet family life in Oregon. The 29-year-old signed with IMG Models at just 17 years of age in 2013, gracing the covers of fashion magazines like Elle and Vanity Fair. She made her acting debut alongside her mother Kim in 2014's Grudge Match, though she didn't catch the acting but like her mother. 'I can't act for s**t. It's not in my blood,' Baldwin admitted on Emily Ratajkowski's High Low with EmRata podcast last year. She ultimately settled down with musician RAC (born Andre Allen Anjos), welcoming their first child, a daughter, in May 2023. She moved to Portland, Oregon with her family in 2020, adding that she, 'couldn't handle' Hollywood and 'bowed out of that world.' 'I just really couldn't be in LA anymore. It started to take a toll on me, and especially over Covid it's just become a really dark place,' she said. 'LA can be a wonderful place but it's also a trap. It's filled with a lot of people who definitely don't have your best interest,' Ireland added. PARKER O'DONNELL - Son of Rosie O'Donnell Occupation: Marine Corps Comedienne Rosie O'Donnell has adopted five children, the first of which was her son Parker, who chose a field her mother couldn't have imagined: the military. The 63-year-old adopted Parker in 1995 when he was just an infant, who grew up to be a military aficionado. 'Truth is, since he was a little boy, that's his area of interest. The same way I love [Barbra] Streisand and Bette Midler and entertainment, he can tell you any general in any war, what kind of tanks they had, what the battles were like,' she said in 2011. He ultimately convinced his mother to send him to Valley Forge Military Academy as a teenager in 2011, which lead to his career in the Marines. During an appearance on The View in 2014, O'Donnell joked, 'How do you annoy your left-wing, liberal, pacifist mother? You become a big military man.' He also revealed on Instagram that he became a certified mixologist in 2016, and now it seems he may be trying to follow his mother's footsteps. He shared on Instagram in late January that he graduated from the Los Angeles Film School, though it's not clear what kind of film career he is pursuing. 'Graduated today. Thank you to all my instructors and advisors who helped me finish my degree. Thanks to my family for helping me have the opportunity to complete my higher education,' he said in the caption. TOMMY ZISSO - Son of Erika Jayne Occupation: LAPD police officer Erika Jayne is best known for her involvement in the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills franchise but her first marriage to Thomas Zizzo has produced one of L.A.'s finest. The 53-year-old reality star tied the knot with Thomas Zizzo in December 1991, welcoming Tommy in 1992, though they split soon thereafter when Erika was just 20. She moved to Los Angeles shortly after the split, leaving Tommy with his father in New York, a decision she said in 2018, 'was the biggest risk I've ever taken.' 'I was panicked, but I was committed to succeeding. And I knew he'd end up here with me eventually,' she said. Erika Jayne is best known for her involvement in the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills franchise but her first marriage to Thomas Zizzo has produced one of L.A.'s finest - police officer Tommy Tommy is now 32 and an LAPD cop, with Erika hinting that he'd likely never make an appearance on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2019 In January Zizzo, testified in Los Angeles in the gun trial of rapper A$AP Rocky Tommy is now 32 and an LAPD cop, with Erika hinting that he'd likely never make an appearance on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2019. 'Probably not. I don't think so, no. You know he has a private life; he's a police officer,' she said at the time. The reality star was also quick to defend her son in 2020, in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder. '(He was) brought up NOT to be racist. His job is to protect and serve ALL not just people that have his skin color. F**k you and stay off my page,' she said. In January Zizzo, testified in Los Angeles in the gun trial of rapper A$AP Rocky. Zizzo was the first witness called in the highly publicized case. Rocky, father of Rihanna 's two children, faced two felony charges of assault with a firearm for allegedly shooting a friend in 2021 and was found not guilty.
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Four Beckham flings, a Beatles grandson & Lottie Moss' tangled web – inside the twisted world of nepo baby relationships
THEY'VE got famous surnames, private jets and Instagram followings bigger than small countries - but when it comes to love, these celebs are keeping it all in the nepo baby circle. As well as being rich, ridiculously good-looking and never having to enter a discount code in their lives, it appears that fame is not only the family business, but also the dating pool. 22 Welcome to the high-gloss world of nepo baby relationships - where the selfies are filtered and the romantic links are more tangled than a Love Island group chat. From Brooklyn Beckham tying the knot with billionaire heiress Nicola Peltz, and Gemma Owen - daughter of football royalty - now loved up with Red Morgan, son of one of the UK's most successful housebuilders, it appears that these celebs aren't just inheriting their parents' millions. In this gilded dating circle, surnames matter more than star signs - and it's less about 'where did you meet?' and more like 'who are you related to?'. With some reaching the altar and others fizzling out, here, Fabulous takes a deep dive into the twisted web of how the children of the rich and famous have found love with fellow nepo babies. Lottie Moss ' nepo baby flings While some nepo baby couples have stood the test of time, Lottie Moss has dated two nepo babies - and neither latest. 22 In 2019, the famous model, 27, who is the younger half-sister of Kate Moss, reportedly had a brief 'secret fling' Brooklyn Beckham. The duo had been friends for some time and the relationship allegedly made David and Victoria Beckham fearful that Brooklyn was becoming the 'new Calum Best'. A friend said: 'Brooklyn is becoming quite prolific in his wooing. He has obviously inherited his dad's charm. 'He's not naturally the most gregarious of boys, but his success rate with girls is quite astonishing. 'His pals egg him on but David and Victoria are less impressed. They've spoken to him about his behaviour and warned him he can't get away with certain things now he's in the public eye. Nepo-baby with TWO Oscar winning parents lands first movie role in a thriller - can you guess his famous mum and dad? 'They are genuinely concerned about his reputation and have compared some of his antics to those of Calum Best. They added that his relationship with Lottie was a "high-profile female association" that he could "frankly do without". Not only this, but she also dated radio host Roman Kemp, 32, back in 2020. With Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp as his father and Pepsi & Shirlie star Shirlie Holliman as his mum, Roman has candidly discussed being a nepo baby and claimed it's 'the best'. Discussing the benefits of his upbringing, Roman previously said: "Oh my god, it's the best! 'When it comes to how I grew up, I always say this, the best part of my life, one being how I grew up, two, the parents that I have because I went to the best private school, I got any present that I wanted for Christmas, any present I wanted for a birthday." Roman dated fellow nepo baby Lottie five years ago and prior to things fizzling out, a mutual friend told The Sun on Sunday: 'They have known each other through the party circuit for a few years, but nothing has ever happened before. 'Roman's always thought she was beautiful and decided to pluck up the courage to ask her out. 'They had a really fun, very tipsy date and have been in touch every day since.' Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz As well as reportedly dating Lottie, Brooklyn Beckham 's marriage has strong power couple status - all thanks to his and Nicola Peltz 's famous parents. 22 We all know that Brooklyn, 25, is the son of David, 50, and Victoria Beckham, while Nicola is the daughter of Jewish-American entrepreneur Nelson Peltz, 82, and his model wife Claudia Heffner, 69, of whom both share eight children. While the Beckhams are among Hollywood elite, Nicola stands to inherit a huge sum of her father's whopping $1.3 billion fortune one day. Brooklyn and Nicola first met at the 2017 Coachella music festival in California, but didn't start dating until 2019. The now husband and wife first went public with their relationship in 2020 and Brooklyn proposed with an emerald and diamond ring that is said to cost more than £350,000 in July the same year. Their high profile relationship is full of the sort of lavishness that one could only imagine, including luxury yacht trips, multi-million properties and a designer wardrobe to rival the queen of style herself, Victoria Beckham, 51. Following in her investor father's footsteps, Nicola and Brooklyn snapped up a $10.5million starter mansion in Beverly Hills after just a few months of dating. While Nicola made her directorial debut with drama film Lola, Brooklyn, who recently admitted that he's 'obviously a nepo baby' has launched a hot sauce named Cloud 23. Beatles grandson's nepo baby relationships While Miley and Patrick didn't last, Bill Gates' daughter Phoebe and Arthur Donald, 26, looked more loved-up than ever as they made a rare public appearance together just last week. 22 The young couple boast family ties to tech and rock 'n' roll royalty and began dating in mid-2023. Phoebe Gates is the last born daughter of billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 69, and his ex-wife - now too a billionaire - Melinda, 60. Her parents are worth north of $160 billion combined, while Arthur Alistair Donald, who previously dated Reese Witherspoon 's daughter Ava Phillippe, boasts Beatles legend and billionaire Paul McCartney, 82, as his granddad. What is a Nepo Baby? A 'nepo baby' is a colloquial term used to describe individuals who have gained opportunities or success in their careers primarily due to familial connections or the influence of their well-known or wealthy parents, rather than solely through their own talent, skills, or efforts. The term 'nepo' is short for 'nepotism', which refers to favouritism granted to relatives or close friends, often in a professional context. Key Characteristics: Inherited advantage: Nepo babies often benefit from their family's established reputation, wealth, or industry connections. Access to networks: They typically have easier access to influential networks and resources within their chosen field. Public perception: The term can carry a negative connotation, implying that their success is not entirely merit-based. Industries Affected: Entertainment: Many actors, musicians, and other performers are often labeled as nepo babies if they have famous parents. Business: Individuals who inherit or are given significant roles in family-owned businesses. Politics: Politicians who follow in the footsteps of their parents or other relatives. Examples: Children of famous actors who become actors themselves. Heirs to business empires who assume executive roles. Offspring of political figures who enter public office. The concept of nepo babies is often debated, with some arguing that it undermines the notion of meritocracy. Meanwhile, others believe that it is natural for families to support and help each other succeed. Arthur and Ava were spotted on a 'date' in London seven years ago, as he showed the blonde around his hometown and even took her for drinks at celebrity hotspot Sketch. But now, Arthur is loved up with his second nepo baby and was seen cosying up at a glitzy party in California with Phoebe, 22, as she shared a rare snap of them on her Instagram stories, captioned with two blue hearts. Speaking on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Phoebe opened up about her relationship with Arthur and shared: 'He took me to an Elton John concert and now we've been dating for almost two years.' Alex Pettyfer 's list of nepo baby lovers Another celeb who likes to date in the nepo baby circle is Alex Pettyfer, 35. 22 He is the son of actors Lee Robinson and Richard Pettyfer and dated Elvis Presley's granddaughter Riley Keough over a decade ago. Alex was briefly engaged to Riley Keough, 35, and reflected on the romance in a 2018 Radio Andy interview, as he claimed he experienced 'love at first sight.' Things didn't last for the pair, but this wasn't Alex's first attempt at finding love with iconic nepo babies. Before his relationship with Riley, Alex dated another actor Eric Roberts' daughter Emma Roberts, 34. 22 Emma Roberts not only has a famous father, but is the niece of Pretty Woman star Julia Roberts. The couple met in 2007 and two years later, Alex seemingly admitted to having Emma's name tattooed on his finger, which he didn't 'regret' despite their split. Romeo Beckham 's nepo baby dating history Like his brother Brooklyn, it appears that Romeo Beckham, 22, the second son of Posh and Becks, is another who likes to date in the nepo baby circle. Romeo is currently dating London-based model and DJ Kim Turnbull. Kim Turnbull, 22, comes from a creative family - her father Alex is a DJ and the founder of influential hip-hop label Ronin Records. Meanwhile, her grandfather, William Turnbull, was a renowned Scottish sculptor whose work was displayed at London's Tate Gallery. Kim began her modelling career in 2017, working with major brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she expanded into DJing, going on to perform at events for fashion houses such as Gucci. Since then, the couple have been seen together at numerous high-profile events, including Victoria Beckham's Paris Fashion Week show and various family gatherings. 22 Prior to dating Kim, Romeo also dated Gray Sorrenti, the daughter of Mario Sorrenti, one of the most iconic fashion photographers of all time, responsible for Kate Moss 's Obsession advert with Calvin Klein and countless high fashion nude spreads in Vogue. The couple sparked dating rumours after they left fashion week together in a taxi and were seen together getting cosy during a romantic stroll in NYC. Gemma Owen and Red Morgan She may be known as a Love Island star to many youngsters, but Gemma Owen, 21, is in fact the daughter of footballer Michael Owen, 45. 22 It appears that the brunette wants to keep her relationships in the nepo baby sphere too, as just last month it was revealed that she is dating a multi-millionaire's son. Gemma hard-launched her new man - Red Morgan, a horse rider and the son of businessman Steve Morgan - on her Instagram stories. Steve Morgan is the founder and chairman of housebuilder Redrow. And not only are Gemma and Red both nepo babies, but it appears that their famous fathers are also connected too. It was previously revealed that Gemma's dad Michael bought land estimated to be worth £4million from Red's dad Steve. The former footballer is said to have stumped up the cash for Lower Soughton Hall, a Grade II listed manor house in North Wales, surrounded by 42 acres of land. While her famous father may have helped her to land her a spot on the ITV dating show, according to data amassed by digital marketing agency, Evoluted, Gemma is the nepo baby with the fastest growing fanbase, with 248,000 monthly Google searches - an increase of a whopping 13,500 per cent. Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman Just last month, Kaia Gerber 's boyfriend and fellow nepo baby Lewis Pullman hit the headlines after he awkwardly dodged questions about her during his latest red carpet appearance. 22 22 Lewis, 32, is the son of Sleepless In Seattle star Bill Pullman, while Kaia, 23, is the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford. News broke of Kaia and Lewis' relationship in January and reports suggest they have grown close enough that his parents even went to see her in a play. However when he attended the premiere of his new Marvel movie Thunderbolts, Lewis sidestepped queries about his nepo baby romance. When he was asked by Entertainment Tonight if he brought a date to the event, he replied: 'No, I don't have a date tonight. My family's my date.' He was then posed with another question about 'a certain brunette we would've liked to see you bring along as a date', to which Lewis smiled and said: 'Well, listen, we're all just lucky to be here on the carpet, hanging, looking forward to the Thunderbolts.' Prior to this, Lewis dated another nepo baby - Rainey Qualley, 36, who is the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell and the sister of actress Margaret Qualley. Frances Bean Cobain and Riley Hawk Another nepo baby pairing are Frances Bean Cobain, the daughter of actress Courtney Love and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who is regarded as one of the most influential alternative rock musicians in the world. 22 The 32-year-old is dating fellow nepo baby Riley Hawk, 31, who is the son of a famous skateboarder, Tony Hawk, 56. Kurt and Courtney's combined estate is thought to sit in the region of half a billion dollars, while Riley's father brings in an estimated $100 million. The couple, who have generational wealth in common, became an item in 2022. But despite her celebrity roots, Frances has made it clear that she doesn't want anything to do with Hollywood - calling it 'pretentious, sh**ty, and filled to the brim with the worst people she's ever met'. Not only this, but she has even turned down many movie roles over the years, including Bella Swan in Twilight. But despite her distaste for the industry, the couple are going from strength to strength. They tied the knot in Los Angeles in October 2023 and have since welcomed their first child together. Miley Cyrus and Patrick Schwarzenegger Earlier this week, Miley Cyrus, 32, seamlessly walked past Patrick Schwarzenegger, 31, at the 2025 Met Gala, but did you know that they previously dated? 22 Miley didn't appear to acknowledge her fellow nepo baby ex at the posh event, which came a decade after the twosome dated. Despite Miley Cyrus' impressive career, with over two decades in the industry and a Grammy win for 'Flowers', the Tennessee-born singer may be one of the most successful nepo babies ever - so successful that she kept her father relevant for decades after his song 'Achy Break Heart' topped charts in the early '90s. While the father and daughter reportedly don't speak anymore following Billy Ray 's remarriage in 2023, there is no denying that he walked a pre-teen Miley into the spotlight. Miley's ex Patrick Schwarzenegger is another nepo baby, but isn't a fan of the commonly-used label. The White Lotus star is the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, but finds 'nepo baby' accusations 'frustrating.' Patrick recently told The Sunday Times: 'I know there are people who'll say I only got this role because of who my dad is. 'They're not seeing that I've had 10 years of acting classes, put on school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I've been on. 'Of course, it's frustrating and you can get boxed in and you think at that moment, I wish I didn't have my last name. But that's a small moment.' The duo dated from 2014 to 2015, after they were first spotted together at a college football game in November 2014. The couple were 'friends for a long time' before hooking up, but it was short lived, as according to Us Weekly, Miley called it quits after Patrick was pictured doing body shots with an unknown woman. Grace Gummer and Mark Ronson Mark Ronson and Grace Gummer tied the knot in 2021 and became first-time parents when they welcomed their daughter in 2023. 22 Not only did Mark, 48, gain a life partner when he married Grace, 37, but he also became the son-in-law of award-winning actress Meryl Streep, who is Grace's mother. But the 'I'm Just Ken' songwriter is also considered a nepo baby, as he is the step-son of Mick Jones, a musician and the guitarist for the band Foreigner. Mark was born into a wealthy family, with his father Laurence working in real estate and his mother Ann Dexter-Jones in the TV industry. While his stepfather has penned one of the greatest power ballads of all time, his success falls just shy of Mark's total 45 award wins, including an Oscar, seven Grammys - and a Guinness World Record. Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge Sofia Richie, 26, and Elliot Grainge, 31, are another nepo baby couple that have not only said I Do, but have also welcomed a child into the mix. 22 Sofia is the daughter of musician Lionel Richie, while her hubby Elliot is the son of Lucian Grainge, the CEO of Universal Music Group, married in April 2023. In May 2024, the couple, who are estimated to have a net worth of $18 million, welcomed their first child into the world - a daughter named Eloise Samantha Grainge. Prior to becoming a mother, Sofia admitted she struggled to 'find her place in the world'. I didn't have the experience, and I didn't want to be one of those kid celebrities that got the role because my dad is who he is Sofia Richie Speaking to Town & Country, Sofia revealed that her desire to not be a nepo baby caused her to experiment with different paths. Sofia explained: 'I spent a lot of time just trying to find my place in the world. I think everyone wants to be like their parents when they're growing up, and I admired my dad so much, and that drove me down a music path for a moment. But it didn't feel right for me. 'And then everyone told me, 'You should be an actor!' I tried that for a period, but that wasn't me either. 'I didn't have the experience, and I didn't want to be one of those kid celebrities that got the role because my dad is who he is.' She continued: 'So I was like, 'You know what? I know I'm not cut out for this. Let me just be myself'.' Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell Lily Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell, are a nepo baby couple who recently celebrated their three-year wedding anniversary. 22 The Emily in Paris star, 36, and Charlie, 41, both have famous parents in common - Lily is the daughter of legendary British musician Phil Collins and American business owner Jill. Meanwhile, Charlie boasts actor Malcolm McDowell and actress Mary Steenburgen as his parents, as well as stepfather actor Ted Danson. The couple first met on the set of the film Gilded Rage, a movie he directed about the infamous murder of investment banker Thomas Gilbert Sr. Despite growing up in the celebrity circle, Lily admitted she first realised the level of her father's fame when they were on a family trip to Disneyland when she was a child. Speaking candidly to Radio Times, she said she remembered seeing a man sporting a t-shirt with the music icon's face on his t-shirt. She explained: 'I was thinking, 'Why does he want a picture of my dad, and why is my dad on his T-shirt?'. Read More on The Sun ROUND TWO Molly-Mae FINALLY confirms she's back together with Tommy Fury in TV show return SMASH MAYHEM Major motorway brought to standstill by rush-hour crash 'between lorry & van' 'Slowly but surely, I started to understand.' 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