Victoria Beckham has hit back at claims her children at ‘nepo-babies’ and says she ‘feels sorry’ for son Cruz, who is trying to build a music career independently of his Spice Girls mother
As all her children try to get their careers off the ground, Victoria Beckham has hit back at nepo baby claims, warning that it’s “not their fault” that they happen to be the “kids of their parents”.
‘Nepo Baby’ is the term given to the children of famous parents, who get head starts in their careers thanks to their parents fame and influence. Key examples include Judd Apatow’s children Maude and Iris, who got their start as actors in his films, and Jaden Smith, who starred in films alongside his famous father Will.
Victoria’s eldest child, Brooklyn has been at the centre of the nepotism debate as he has tried his hand at several careers – including modelling, photography and cooking – and had opportunities in those fields, which some suggested were gotten without any necessary training or experience.
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While Brooklyn has continued to pursue a career in food in America, Romeo is a model, Harper Seven is trying her hand at beauty influencing and Cruz is an aspiring singer songwriter who has signed up to a music management company.
It is nepo baby claims aimed at Cruz that Victoria has taken issue with. She said: “Cruz has got music coming out soon. He’s spent the last ten years learning his craft — much like I did with Roland [Mouret, Victoria’s fashion mentor] — learning to play instruments. He taught himself to play about seven instruments!
“He writes his own songs, he’s put a band together. He’s properly done it from the grass roots up. He hasn’t just come in and sung his songs, or demanded anything.”
She added that she felt her experience in one of the world’s biggest pop groups wouldn’t have helped him anyway. “I mean I can’t really give him any advice — the industry has changed so much. But I told him, ‘Don’t expect immediate success’. It’s almost better if it isn’t an immediate success.
“You know, it’s like with my fashion thing — it’s taken me 20 years to get it to where it is. You’ve got to start small and build it up. And that’s exactly what he’s doing, playing tiny venues, no fuss, doing his thing. I am so proud of him.”
When a reporter for The Sun suggested that Cruz is not a “traditional” nepo baby, Victoria launched into a defence of the children of famous couples. “But he is a nepo,” she said. “I mean, I feel sorry for these kids that are considered nepo-babies.
“The kids are simply the kids of their parents. It’s not their fault. Give them a chance. What matters is that people are good and kind. It is fine to be ambitious, but it is more important to be kind. Let the music speak for itself before you judge.”
Victoria shared her thoughts ahead of the release of her new documentary on Netflix. Almost all her children turned up to the premiere on Wednesday (8 October) to support her. The only one not in attendance was Brooklyn. This is just the latest big Beckham family occasion that he has snubbed this year. The others include his father’s 50th birthday and knighthood.
Most of the Spice Girls turned up as well. Gerri Halliwell-Horner, Melanie Chisholm and Emma Bunton all turned up to support their former bandmate, but Melanie Brown was not there.
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