Timothée Chalamet is the latest celebrity to become the focus of debates regarding nepotism, after the actor’s agent declared that he “hasn’t auditioned for anything” in more than seven years.
Over the past several weeks, a host of celebrities, so-called nepo babies of the entertainment industry, have faced increased scrutiny on social media for how their familial connections might have helped propel them to success.
“Nepo baby” is a term used online for someone deemed to have achieved success only as a result of receiving help from famous or successful family members.
Chalamet, 27, became the latest star drawn into the conversation over the weekend, when a tweet was shared on the account of Discussing Film about the anticipated sequel to the acclaimed 2000 movie Gladiator.
“Austin Butler, Timothée Chalamet, Miles Teller and Richard Madden all auditioned for the lead tole in Ridley Scott’s ‘GLADIATOR 2.’ Paul Mescal won the role,” read the tweet, which has since been deleted.
Disputing the unverified claims, Chalamet’s agent Brian Swardstrom responded on Twitter: “I know one of these actors was shooting a film in the middle east for the past several months—and he hasn’t auditioned for anything in more than 7 years.”
I know one of these actors was shooting a film in the middle east for the past several months – and he hasn’t auditioned for anything in more than 7 years.
— Brian Swardstrom (@brianswardstrom) January 7, 2023
The tweet was picked up by the Twitter account of Pop Crave, who posted the statement from Swardstrom and thus sparked a debate.
One Twitter user responded by stating that “this is not the flex u think it is.”
“This is why movies suck now, actors are being chosen through networking and connections rather than taking the time to see who’s the most talented thru auditions,” said another.
Another accused Hollywood of giving the actor “special treatment. Chalamet is a nepo baby but a lot of people don’t know that, but he has a uncle in the industry that [opened] a lot of doors for him.”
hollywood is giving him a special treatment. Chalamet is a nepo baby but a lot of people don’t know that, but he has a uncle in the industry that open a lot of doors for him
— Marcos Santos (@MarcosS92952) January 7, 2023
While it’s by no means unusual for actors not to audition for roles once they have reached a certain level of success, Chalamet’s industry connections became a point of scrutiny during the discussion.
The Beautiful Boy star’s uncle is director and producer Rodman Flender, while his mother, Nicole Flender, has been credited as appearing in two movies, including one short.
The screen heartthrob’s sister, Pauline Chalamet, also acts, having appeared in HBO comedy The Sex Lives Of College Girls and 2020 comedy film The King Of Staten Island.
However, the suggestion that Timothée Chalamet is no longer required to audtion because of nepotism was disputed by a host of other Twitter users.
“Begging people who have no idea how the film and tv industry works to stop talking about it,” tweeted writer and producer Sam Greisman.
Another said: “Timothée Chalamet hasn’t had to audition for anything in over seven years because he’s simply that talented and that in demand, there is no larger conspiracy here and I’m begging some of you to stop talking about this stuff with no knowledge of how the industry actually works.”
“The ‘privilege’ in question here is Timothée Chalamet’s own talent,” they added.
“Isn’t being the youngest Best Actor Oscar nominee in 75 years for your FIRST major film role enough of an audition?” asked another, in reference to the actor’s acclaimed turn in Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name.
So-called nepo babies became a talking point on social media, Twitter especially, after Vulture and New York Magazine articles highlighted a number of entertainers today with influential parents who may have helped their career.
This list included Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of actor Johnny Depp and French singer/actress Vanessa Paradis, and Jack Quaid, son of actors Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.
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