These 5 Nepo Babies Can't Act to Save Their Lives, According to Reddit
Sometimes the apple does fall far from the tree. These are 5 rich kids that Reddit thinks proved that money can't buy talent.
In Hollywood and any other creative field, talent has to be the most valuable thing and the key to success.
Yet here we are, watching another wave of nepo babies gracing our screens. Of course, some of them genuinely deserve their spotlight and all the praise they’re getting. Take Elizabeth Olsen or Benedict Cumberbatch, for example. Many don't even realize that they come from a heritage. And that's exactly how it's done. Let your talent speak for itself louder than your name does.
Yet for every success story, there's a cringe-worthy performance that makes us wonder if casting a well-known name is really worth it. Today we’re looking into Reddit's honest take on 5 nepotism babies who might have got their careers because of their parents' legacy.
When Model Genes Don't Translate to Acting Chops
First up is Kaia Gerber, daughter of supermodel royalty Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber.
She has undeniably carved out a successful modeling career (those genes don't lie). But when it comes to acting, fans aren't quite as impressed.
Redditor chunkymcgee didn't hold back, saying:
“Kaia Gerber in AHS, she looked so familiar too but I couldn’t stand her acting. Made sense when I googled her to see “daughter of Cindy Crawford” lol.”
American Horror Story is known for giving newcomers a chance to shine, but this particular casting raised some eyebrows. Gerber's acting in the AHS franchise left viewers wishing she'd stick to what she knows best.
Rock Royalty's Acting Misfortune
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When your dad is Mick Jagger, you probably have some pretty big moves to live up to. Unfortunately for James Jagger, son of the Rolling Stones frontman and model Jerry Hall, his acting hasn't quite hit the right notes.
Redditor joycecarolgoats shared their experience:
“I just turned off a horror movie because the male lead’s performance was so bad it took me out of things. Turns out he’s Mick Jagger’s son.”
Redditor MsLippy chimed in with specifics:
“Are you referring to Deep House? Because I agree, James Jagger was bad in that.”
For those unfamiliar with Deep House, it's a 2021 underwater horror film that attempts to blend claustrophobic terror with supernatural elements. The premise had potential, but the execution left much to be desired, particularly in the acting department. Currently sitting at a disappointing 32% on the Popcornmeter, it's safe to say this wasn't the breakthrough role for Jagger.
The Billionaire's Daughter and The Movie About Poverty
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Meet Nicola Peltz, daughter of billionaire Nelson Peltz and model Claudia Heffner. Her performance in The Last Airbender had Redditor Hiddengodcomplex fuming:
“Nicola Peltz in anything but I was introduced to her through The Last Airbender. Everyone sucked, but her acting was a big offense to me.”
And we get it. When you have a project you're passionate about being ruined in front of your very eyes, there are definitely heavy feelings involved.
Yet nothing screams “out of touch” quite like Peltz's recent project Lola (2024), an infamous movie about poverty. Redditor exotic_floral_tea nailed it:
“The movie should be an exhibit of how rich people perceive the poor. Just another case study for the disconnect between people on either side of the spectrum of the economic gap.”
What's fascinating about this trend is how Hollywood's elite seem to have an odd obsession with portraying poverty on screen. Poverty tourism but make it cinematic?
Handsome Gene, but Does He Have the Skills?
When your father is Clint Eastwood, expectations are naturally sky-high. Scott Eastwood, son of the legendary actor-director and Jacelyn Reeves, has unfortunately proven that intensity and screen presence aren't genetic traits.
Redditor chesapeake_ripperz put it perfectly:
“Pacific Rim: Uprising was already a terrible sequel, but the actor playing Nate Lambert stood out in the worst way possible. I'd never seen such wooden acting in such a large budget movie, so I figured he might be the director's kid or something. Nope. Scott Eastwood, son of Clint Eastwood.”
While Scott inherited his father's insanely good looks, the commanding presence that made Clint a legend seems to have been unfortunately missing.
He has all the right moves yet the magic is gone. And we can’t be sad at these massive missed opportunities.
Looking Good Isn't Enough
When your parents are Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn and model Cindy Harrell Horn, you'd think the stars would align perfectly for an acting career. But somehow even the best connections can't make up for what's missing on screen.
Meet Cody Horn, whose performance in Magic Mike left audiences more confused than entertained. Redditor mildlyoutraged didn't sugar-coat it:
“Cody Horn, in the first Magic Mike movie. Her dad is a studio head, mom an actress/model. She was awful in the movie and hasn’t has much work (at least nothing big) since.”
Despite having a star-studded cast, including Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey to play off of, Horn's performance stood out for all the wrong reasons. Even having Disney magic under your belt may not be enough to captivate an audience.
