Helped Out by Their Parents: What Are 'Nepo Babies'?
When 22-year-old American actor Jack Quaid was young, he was just like everyone else. He went to school, enjoyed listening to music and playing video games.
His parents, like most parents, wanted to give him the best life they could — giving him opportunities by using the connections they had.
The only difference is that his mother and father are the famous US actors Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, so Jack had a few more opportunities than most of us.
In recent years, people like Jack have become known as "nepo babies."
That's short for "nepotism babies" and it's used to refer to a child of a famous or successful parent. It's not complimentary — it suggests that the child has been successful because of their family connections.
Some stars don't like being called nepo babies. American singer Willow Smith, who is the daughter of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, doesn't like the term.
She has said she still had to work hard to make a name for herself in music.
However, Jack Quaid doesn't mind so much.
He told a podcast he agrees that he's a nepo baby. "I knew the door was open for me in a lot of ways that it's just not for a lot of actors," he told The Daily Beast's "The Last Laugh" podcast.
He added that he doesn't think the term undermines his talent. "I know that I work hard, and I know I've heard 'no' way more than I've heard 'yes'."
The idea of successful parents opening doors for their children is nothing new. American actress Gwyneth Paltrow is the daughter of an actress and a director, but she has become more famous and successful than her parents.
