Situations like these have brought to the public’s attention how many popular celebrities and their children receive special treatment, honorary degrees, or a starring position in roles solely because of their celebrity status. While many celebrities and their children, to some extent, have capable singing or acting abilities, it is ultimately unfair that the parents’ status is what grants them special treatment.
Imagine if someone was the most qualified candidate to lead the country, or the most talented singer in a singing competition. How frustrated would he or she feel if he or she were denied such opportunities and achievements simply because someone else’s parents decided they wanted their child to be number one? This pattern, known as nepotism, has existed since the birth of Hollywood, but is fundamentally flawed and should be outlawed.
According to the New York Times, this phrase communicates disillusionment with Hollywood culture and rejects the idea that talent and hard work are prioritized over nepotism.
It is incredibly discouraging for aspiring actors and singers who have worked their way through trials and tribulations to lose well-deserved opportunities to others who had been born with a silver spoon in their mouths. This perpetuates the idea that social hierarchies are static and that someone can never succeed without well-known parents.
In addition, nepotism also grants its beneficiaries conveniences that are unavailable to those who are not included in powerful social circles. The simple truth is that individuals who have pre-existing connections with established figures in any field have a leg up in comparison to individuals who do not. This pattern is even more prevalent in the music or film industries where children of parents with powerful connections can easily find the people they need to succeed.
When it comes to the discussion of college and degrees in particular, it is extremely frustrating that many successful artists are given honorary degrees despite not even attending their respective schools. College students across the country are consistently struggling to pay their tuition fees and are constantly bombarded with assignments and stress. Yet here comes a random singer with three top-ten singles who is not prioritized by the university and suddenly is entitled to a diploma without even lifting a finger.
For example, Taylor Swift was invited by New York University in 2022 to receive a diploma for a doctorate in fine arts, despite Swift never attending any university at all. NYU defended its decision by claiming that Swift deserved it because she was “one of the most prolific and celebrated artists of her generation.”
“There are countless people who are creatively and intellectually active without receiving any bonus for it,” Ueli Mäder from Swiss research magazine Horizons said. “Honorary doctorates can promote innovative creativity, but titles run the risk of entrenching hierarchies and elevating some above others.”
Of course, not every single “nepo-baby” or honorary degree receiver is talentless, and many do exemplify passion and dedication in their respective work. However, it is important to evaluate their work with a non-biased perspective, without taking their status into account. Only by emphasizing hard work and talent over status and popularity can we grant diplomas to the most dedicated of graduates, and create bodies of work that push the boundaries of creativity.
