Ben Platt & The Ethics of Nepo Baby Discourse
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- Опубліковано 13 жов 2024
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While Ben Platt is one of our favorite performers, he’s not perfect, and a recent interview with Rolling Stone has some fans side-eyeing the Pitch Perfect star.
But when Rolling Stone asked about him being on the cover of New York Magazine’s Nepo Baby cover (which photoshopped his head, and other actors’ onto the bodies of babies), he shut down, asking if he could skip the question. When Rolling Stone asked if that meant “no comment,” his publicist stepped in and said they’d like to focus on Theater Camp for the interview.
Rolling Stone also says that shortly after that question was asked, Platt’s publicist intervened to say that they had only one question left, despite being only twenty minutes into what was supposed to be a 45-minute interview.
I mean between him being a nepo baby AND a theater kid he was pretty much doomed from the start
You're not wrong 😂
That was a recipe for disaster lol
Also it's not uncommon for people to take the same jobs as their parents so I don't see much of an issue of people doing that in the entertainment industry as long as they don't ignore them being privileged
@@devonmunn5728 Yeah, until like two hundred years ago, everyone in the world did the same job as their parents. There were no farmers' kids in the 1600s who were like, "What do I want to be, do I want to go into fashion design?" No man, you're going to be a farmer, haha.
It shouldn't be weird in 2023 that a few people still do that. It's what you're exposed to all growing up, which is not a small thing. When I went to law school, I bet at least half of my classmates had lawyer parents.
this is too funny
"He had it coming! He had it coming!"
Allison Williams gave THE BEST answer about her privilege as a nepo baby: "All that people are looking for is an acknowledgement that it’s not a level playing field. It’s just unfair. Period, end of the story, and no one’s really working that hard to make it fair. To not acknowledge that me getting started as an actress versus someone with zero connections isn’t the same - it’s ludicrous."
That's the best response I've heard!
Queen
Nepo babies are so wild, all they'd really have to say is "Yeah, I'm grateful for the opportunities that have presented themselves thanks to my familial connections" and that's like it. It's okay to be a nepo baby, every professional industry in the world has a solid amount of nepotism in it but these celebs are so obsessed with the false American idealism of "pulling yourselves up by the bootstraps" and "building yourself up from nothing" that they can't just be honest with the reality that most of the time that's not how people reach success.
THIS
I love this comment
this american ideal that "you can get anything you want if you work hard and set your mind to it" seems naive at best. success depends of a million factors, not many of which you have any control over
@waddle.dee.parasol yeah. Most "self made" billionaires in America come from wealthy suburban families and had their parents help them, but because Grind culture is at a all time high, American's don't give a shit and worship these rich nepo business men like gods
Technically the word nepotism implies working directly for your family while people seem to be applying it to things like "anyone who has money". I saw someone claim Lorde is a Singer because of nepotism but her parents aren't connected to the entertainment industries, they're engineers.
I think the "nepo baby" conversation has been lasting so long is because it's tied to the conversation around privilege. For example, here in Western Europe, you have an advantage in university or higher education if one or both of your parents have accomplished some kind of higher education, if you have the financial means to get the help you need, if you have a house that's big enough for you to have your own room with a good Internet connection, etc. (there are studies on those topics). That doesn't mean you don't work hard; that means that people who don't have the same advantages you have work harder. That's why I think the nepo baby conversation has been lasting since this article came out: we can all relate. And our childhood dreams of becoming suddenly a superstar also seem even more unrealistic, in a way. My favourite colour is pink ;-)
You spoke nothing but the truth. I’m taking a sociology class and everything you said about the privilege is right. People who have advantages are more likely to be successful. You can afford good tutors, send your kids to the good schools, pay for ACT/SAT prep and give generous donations to good colleges to make sure your kid gets in. Someone without these advantages has to work just as hard and may not be as successful.
The other thing is, if all of these actors, singers, models admitted they were privileged and had an advantage to getting where they were, they might have to confront the fact that the industry is not a fair one and then they would face the responsibility of having to do something about it which no one wants to do.
I appreciate O'Shea Jackson Jr.'s perspective on nepo-babies and being one. He said something along the lines about how he's so grateful for all his father did so that it would be easier for him to pursue acting etc. So basically he owned that he's a nepo baby without getting defensive and also showed so much pride and appreciation for his parents which is very refreshing. I remember Jeff Bridges saying that about his father too. Edit: oops posted this 5 minutes in before Kayla got to O'Shea!
In regards to that tweet from the other journalist taking about Bens PR team, the journalist followed up by sharing that Ben himself reached out to him with a nice message and publicly posted the article on instagram and thanked the writer at the time. His PR on the other hand were acting like monsters. Seems like a big disconnect and PR problem, I wish he would find a new team!
One of my college friends knows Ben Platt pretty well, and she's super sweet and talked about him as a generally caring and kind friend. So overall, to me, it does appear that he's just particularly insecure over this one thing, which, tbh I get that. Jenny Nicholson's review of the film is my fave.
I think Ben suffers from a case of impostor syndrome. People like Maya Hawke, John David Washington and O Shea Jackson lean into their privilege, where even though Ben is talented, Ben’s dad being a producer seems to have really pushed his son into the limelight
Which makes you wonder if Ben even enjoys being in a public eye. Is he a musical theater actor because he wants to be, or did his father push him into the industry when realizing his son could sing?
@@ChienaAvtzon That's an interesting perspective. I like it a lot, you raise a very good question.
@@morgan_cMORGAN??
nepo baby discourse always reminds me of the bird scene from victorious: if you know you're talented and have esteem in your own abilities, then no critic's words should matter that much to you. and no one is criticizing him directly, they just want him to acknowledge that he DID have a leg up and it's not that easy for everyone. that's all. that doesn't invalidate his talent. but for some reason he doesn't seem to get that. and so his defensiveness comes off as the answer of someone who probably has no talent simply because he can't stand to put all the cards on the table.
also yes please do a pitch perfect video
coming back to this to say that sometimes nepo babies can outshine their parents, IF they shut up, put their heads down, do the work, and let their careers speak for them. good examples of this are lenny kravitz, miley cyrus, and carrie fisher. and none of them got to where they are by refusing to speak about their parents.
i came here to comment exactly that. if your talent and your body of work can stand on its own two feet, is it really that damning if you admit that you got an extra push??
Jack Quaid has always struck me as someone who handles being a nepobaby quite well. He was on that cover of that New Yorker piece, yet he's gotten by with zero damage. When asked about it, he said:
"I think in the beginning, I was like, 'Oh, do people like me? Do they think that I'm just riding my parents' coattails?' and all this stuff," he told the outlet. "Then lately, I've been making an effort to focus on that less and just really trying to embrace this."
It really helps that he seems like a down to earth guy who loves what he does. Not a lot celebrities show up in UA-cam videos with Jessie Gender or Red Letter Media to talk about their love of Star Trek and bad movies. Makes him very approachable and cool.
I really like Jack Quaid. He’s been in some good stuff & he seems to have a good picker on the projects he takes on.
If you see him in concert, him addressing the fact that hes from a famous family is like part of his act. "I come from a very famous musical family. The Von Platt music company they call us, and it has allowed me to follow my dreams." part of every show. He acknowledges it constantly. I dont know. Im still on team Ben. His voice alone deserves celebrity I think.
One thing that was not mentioned is that a lot of times for high profile interviews the questions are often sent in advance. In addition, there is also typically a discussion on topics that are off limits for interviews. He was probably told there wouldn’t be questions asked around the subject and then was subsequently blindsided. Regardless, there was probably a better way he could have answered.
Pitch Perfect is one of my favorite filmes ever and I love Ben Platt in it, sometimes I wish I could only remember him from this film and nothing else cause I really love his character lol
The nepo baby question has a lot of wrong answers and no real right ones in terms of actually improving how people see you. You’ve just gotta go with the “Yup, I benefitted from my connections and worked really hard” answer - pretty much anything else is just going to hurt you. It’s like an ego test for celebrities and it’s remarkable how many of them don’t realize that that’s what’s happening. Also, favourite colour is purple 💜
I always like saying that there are nepo babies and people in the family business. Nothing wrong with taking on the family business as long as you acknowledge that that’s what gave you the leg up. Either way, once I saw parade I was like Ben gets a pass he’s incredible
I just wanted to note that he has very eloquently answered questions about his privilege many times. Including how being the son of a producer has gave him a leg up in his career (verbatim he’s said that). The whole Rolling Stone article was a misfire in my opinion. The way the interviewer framed the question was a bit disingenuous and frustrating because how does him commenting on the Nepo Baby article specifically add anything to the convo about nepotism? I wish he had reframed it but it’s just such a cyclical and tired convo at this point
That Platt is bothered being repeatedly asked about the "nepo baby" issue isn't surprising for those who paid attention to the specific hate he received, in contrast to other performers who are mentioned in the online chatter. His casting in the DEH film in particular led to an onslaught of HIGHLY anti-Semitic comments. It infuriates me that ppl do these "what's wrong with Ben Platt that he reacts so negatively" takes and forget or ignore the bigotry that was unleashed towards him. Another sad commonality of these takes is claiming the elder Platt got Ben the role of Evan in the film.
This is blatantly wrong. Evan was ALWAYS intended to be played by Ben P!att, from the earliest rumblings of this being talked about as a film. I have heard this from multiple creatives long before the film was announced as greenlit. The part of Evan onstage was even written by Pasek and Paul with Ben in mind, after he had auditioned for Dogfight but was deemed too young.
As for Marc Platt's involvement, Steven Levinson has talked about how THEY approached HIM for advice knowing he produces films. That eventually evolved into him coming on board the film that Ben was already part of . The nepotism here, if any, is in reverse.
Those of us who closely followed this work from the Arena Stage/off-Broadway days are over TwitTok revisionist history. I absolutely think Platt is privileged in the way most who make it in the entertainment business - particularly Broadway - are. They come from well off (usually white) families who could afford to send them to drama school, buy them performance lessons, take them to see theater, enable them to participate in children's theater/theater camps etc. And Ben would necessarily benefit from his dad being a producer as that might help him get an audition, or at least know what opportunities are out there and now to navigate/prepare for them.
There is abundant need for a wider conversation, not about who has opportunities, but who doesn't. It might be fun to take shots at help babies, but almost none of the people doing so have given the same airplay to the kind of progress that's SORELY needed to not just level the playing field, but give everyone access to it in the first place. If you grow up in a family with no resources.(let alone connections), go to a school with no arts programs, lack access to arts exposure/opportunity in your community, etc., anyone with access to those things is pretty much a nepo baby in terms of access compared to you. This is the conversation that matters, and I'm you at least briefly touched upon that.
*nepo babies not help babies, thanks autocorrect
*I'm glad you touched upon that
imagine typing all this for ben platt 💀
He was really amazing in Parade on Broadway. His name will bring so many people into such an important true story about the antisemitism and racism and pride that the US is both built on and destroyed by, and his talent and heart does it justice.
But also.... someone else may have amazing talent and the heart to play a role like that and couldn't get to this point without the connections Platt has. They can both exist! But he really must have an issue within himself feeling deserving of things, but he doesn't have to make it such a problem 😭
But no one will be able to take Parade away from him, he really had a purpose being in this production, regardless of the nepo baby factor!
There is a bit of a criticism towards Ben Platt, even in “Parade”. He is just portraying himself and not Leo Frank. While, talented, he is the worst actor on that stage. Plus, he needs to get a better vocal coach before he blows out his vocal cords. His talent is singing, more than acting, and whoever is training him clearly has no idea what they are doing. As there is way too much tension in his throat.
@@ChienaAvtzon Mmmmm super valid too, I believe it! I researched the whole story (through tons of Wikipedia reading on everyone/the context for the area/politics) and he definitely wasn't the right choice for portraying him accurately versus the feelings/emotion he brings to the song. Exactly, he's talented at singing and acting through song I guess in that sense, but you are 100% right, all the other actors blew him out of the water. But I think that was okay, he was the most average bland guy, but that almost helps make the point how he was simply existing and that was enough to hang him.
I don’t think it’s nothing wrong with nepo babies if they have the talent
They aren't a problem themselves but rather the spots they are unfairly occupying that someone who is an average non-famous genuenly talented person with big dreams could occupying, in other words, they leave no space for new-commers who always dreamed of being in the industry because nepo babies have an unfair advantage of having contacts and resources because of who they are related to.
I think it’s also important that they’re self-aware and transparent about it rather than acting like their talent and dedication is the ONLY reason they are where they are
@@its_literally_just_my_name that part
Having talent only half excuses them. The other half is acknowledging that their talent is NOT the only reason they are where they are, plenty of very talented people without industry connections never get that big break. Sure, an untalented nepo baby is obviously more infuriating, but a talented nepo baby who refuses to admit or acknowledge the additional inherent advantage they had over everyone else is nearly as bad.
I don't mind when talented nepo baby's get cast for things, but it shouldn't be obvious they only got the role because of connections.
babies not baby's
My gosh I love your approach to creating content. Genuinely love to hear what you have to say about anything, really.
Ps. My favourite color is probably teal/emerald
For me, being a nepo baby is a term more fitting for famous people who don't really have talent and are just riding off their parent's or whoever's coattails. But if they're genuinely talented and passionate about what they do, as well as having some level of self-awareness and humility, then I'm not gonna shit on them for doing it.
There are tons of really talented people you are never gonna hear about because they didn't know the right person.
@@angellover02171 Yeah of course there are, and its awful and should in fact have way more work being put towards making the entertainment industry more equitable (and other industries with similar high levels of this issue.) But, Op wasn't saying that wasn't true. They were saying that their personal choice/opinion on the matter is to not attack people who aren't completely blind/defensive about their clear privilege, have some level of actual skill in the field they're in, and seem to genuinely care about it. Both things can be true at the same time
I also think it’s tricky cause a portion of talent can be sculpted and honed and taught by the best teachers afforded by rich parents. So while yes they’re talented, we really can’t know how much is raw natural talent that would shine on its own.
@@geckohunter123 100% agree, like even if they are super talented there is always gonna be that disparity just because of the resources they had access to that needs to be thought and talked about
I would LOVE a Pitch Perfect video, and/or a related video about cult classics like Mean Girls and Clueless
My fave colour is forest green! I just wanted to say as someone who also went to j school (I worked in the trad media/newspaper side before jobs became too hard to get wheee) and also someone who started watching you in your earlier Drag Race content, I really appreciate the way you navigate and respond to issues in the media. It's been really great seeing you diversify what you talk about & use your skills and I can tell you do your research and give a fair shake to even subjects/people you might have your own opinions about. From one overcaffeinated overtired journalism person to another, you're doing really good work. Stay awesome
The first time I had ever heard of Dear Evan Hansen it was through Owl City's cover of "Waving Through a Window." The first time I had ever heard of Ben Platt was through that Hamilton/Dear Evan Hansen mashup from a few years back. Then there was that Sarah Z video about the Dear Evan Hansen movie which was a good watch. But that's it. That's the extent of my experience and interest with Ben Platt. My favorite color is also purple 💜
Personally I don't really see what's wrong with his comment. Like i think saying "i don't want to talk about it" or "no comment" is a fine response. People just blow things out of proportion.
Kayla girl…this is a really great discourse. You are smart & talented & I appreciate your content, even when it’s about things I don’t know dick about. As for Ben, one cannot deny his prodigious gifts as a singer. Very Groban-esque. But there are many many talented people out there, just as talented as him if not more (especially in the theatre industry) & I just I wish he had better publicists to help him navigate this. He comes off calculated & cold & trying oh-so-hard to be like “everyone else”. Except he was never like “everyone else”. This kid did not struggle for one day in his life EVER. He does not understand what it means to be a struggling anything. So…? What to do? The privilege of it all is deafening above everything else. ❤ you grrrl…keep up the good work.
oh i NEED that great comet video from you... i get so exited everytime you mention this show
Nothing could be more 2010s than Pitch Perfect, PLEASE do a video on it!
While I totally understand journalists being allowed to ask any questions I do think if it is talked about beforehand (and clearly stated) “don’t ask about ___” if a journalist then does the person and their team have every right to say “no we’re done now you crossed a line”
What i don’t understand is why interviewers and other people feel like it’s necessary to repeatedly get these nepo babies to acknowledge that they are nepo babies…? Like we all know they are. I just don’t see what added benefit comes from getting them to answer for it over and over again. Ben Platt is a nepo baby and that’s a fact. Him not liking that or refusing to acknowledge it doesn’t make it any less of a fact so why do we keep asking him to?
Agreed. The whole conversation around Nepo babies is cyclical and annoying. It gets no where every time and at this point we’re asking celebs to check a “good” or “bad” response box which is frankly bad journalism
I agree that it doesn't generate the most interesting responses and is mostly a hurdle for interviewees to trip over (which can then be shared and generate traffic) - at the same time, it's crazy how sensitive these celebs are when there are plenty of model answers out there now that you can give and have the interview move on.. the only thing you have to do is not deny that you were helped!!
@@prophysix yeah like Kayla said it seems like some celebrities take offense because they feel like it’s implying that they only got where they are bc of their famous parent(s) and are therefore untalented, which isn’t the case. Making it big in general doesn’t have much to do with talent anyway it has way more to do with luck, exposure and industry connections and nepo babies have a leg up in exposure and industry connections… that’s all.
I like Ben, I think he’s very talented. That question could have been handled a lot better, because every time this happens his reputation takes a little hit. The thing is, all of the Platts are very talented, I believe at least two of his brothers are pursuing stage acting and haven’t reached the heights Ben has, so there’s that. Did Ben have an advantage? Yes. Is he incredibly gifted? Also, yes. My favorite color is green.
I appreciated your insights into why the Dear Evan Hansen movie didn’t work. Particularly about how the suspension of disbelief inherent to live theater is necessary to make the story work. I would also add, the movie was released against the backdrop of the world going through very, very hard times. I think at that moment in history, the public was less in a place to locate sympathy for Evan’s problems, given the state of the world. I think this made him a very unsympathetic protagonist, since he does a lot of bad things. The story does not work at all if you cannot sympathize with Evan.
Yeah there's a new touring production just been announced in the UK and I love the music but I don't think I could deal with seeing Evan's character again TBH! I think they've actually tweaked the plot a little though so I'll have to look into that
I feel like the answer is simple. “I’m so privileged and thankful that I have the support of parents. Many kids out there don’t have that so I feel blessed and I’m thankful everyday that I can build on the success of my parents with my own talents”. Or make a joke or something
omg yes pls do a video on pitch perfect and a capella culture in like 2013-2017 !!!
I'm also a journalist and I personally think the writer was completely out of line for publishing the piece in that manner- emphasising that the interview was cut short and that Platt didn't want to discuss the New Yorker article. If your interview/article isn't strong on its own merit, without having to create drama or 'expose' someone, then that's an issue with the quality of the journalism.
I'll say it not because I want it, but because it's my DUTY to remind people that Dear Evan Hansen won against Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, which is quite frankly and with no exaggeration, a crime worse than murder. There, it has been said.
Nah not even in the top 2. If anything should've won over Dear Evan Hansen it's Come From Away.
great comet was ROBBED and i will be bitter about it until the day i die
I think the obvious reason why the Nepo baby stuff triggers many of them so much and Ben Platt in specific is because of two really common psychological complexes, I guess you'd call it. One they know, or believe, it's true. So it hurts more because you know internally 'I only have a career because my dad is who my dad is. I could be just as talented and work just as hard and without my dad I never would have gotten my first job.' So it's hitting on that big insecurity within themselves.
And the other one is the fear of losing what they have So they're afraid if others really look at what they've achieved and what they have they will realize they don't deserve their success or their careers and they will lose what they have. The need and desire to protect their careers makes them lash out.
And I just reread this and realized I'm talking about imposter syndrome. A lot of Nepo babies have imposter syndrome.
I’m so ready for your Monica Beverly Hillz “soaking clock” analysis
I’m annoyed with all nepobabies in Hollywood. I want to see more people who aren’t connected; they would bring alot more depth to many roles because they grew up not having everything handed to them
People always think nepo baby means untalented, they aren't mutually exclusive!
We need a pitch perfect video!!!! 😂
JUSTICE FOR NATASHA PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812!! (Edit: fave color? Love me a nice deep teal.)
I think the problem with the Rolling Stone article was that the question was framed to seek his response to being on the magazine cover and to speak authoritatively on the whole topic, not just about his family connections and now other articles that picked it up are shifting it to say “don’t ask Ben about his own nepotism.” He’s actually addressed his privileged upbringing and family connections before - I believe there is an audio clip floating around Twitter and Reddit - but I imagine it’s frustrating that it keeps coming up, especially now that he’s been fantastic in Parade and his new movie seems to be getting good reviews.
I actually knew Ben Platt before he was famous. Because he worked at a Summer Theatre camp that want to and when I knew him, he was a very sweet person I think he still probably is. But I do hope that fame has not gone to his head. That being said, I do still have nothing but love for him, and I hope that one day he realizes that he does have a lot of advantages that other people trying to make it into the business don’t have. That’s not to say that he doesn’t work hard because I know for a fact that he does. And I fully believe that she would’ve made it in the entertainment industry even had him not been a nepo baby. It just would’ve taken him longer. I also understand that must be annoying to have people constantly assume that you only got to where you were because of your parents. However, I do wish you would acknowledge the fact that that you did have a lot of advantages. But as I said, previously, I still have nothing but love for him, and I wish you nothing but the best in the future.
You are my comfort content creator
I'm a ben platt ride or die. That mf is so fucking talented. His album sing to me instead is just *chefs kiss*
My thing with nepo babies is they try to say they fought so hard for roles and auditions like there struggling actors and it’s like no honey that’s not it cuz if your already have a in in the industry your fight is 10xs different then a regular actor who will go broke and homeless trying to just get in the room with the people they grew up around like regular non famous parent actors and singers or whatever don’t have the connections like they do all nepo babies have to do is ask there parent to talk to whoever there trying to meet with
yes ben platt did that. yea i don’t agree with all of it. but he is still my favorite person in the whole world. he’s saved my life in so many different occasions and has held my love for him through it all. i saw parade in may and it was the best night of my whole life, i mean i cried before it started because i knew i was going to see him. he has amazing talent and is so incredibly nice. i will continue to follow and support him, love him (platonically ofc) through it all. this doesn’t mean i don’t take this in mind but i will still stand with my fav person. :)
2:15 yes you should I think it'd be fascinating
I didn't even know it was possible to forget about Pitch Perfect or Ben Platt's role in it but you're valid I guess
When you said nobody was criticizing whether or not he was talented: Some were. Maybe I was just on a bad side of TikTok but I definitely saw people say things like his voice is irritating and the only reason he stays in the business is daddy's money (as well as that he's an arrogant diva). It's not too hard to come across weirdly angry and harsh takes on the internet, and I think some people use "nepo baby discourse" as just a free pass to be mean and attack individuals who happen to have more power than them. You can criticize a system without hating the guts of the people involved in it- nepo babies can choose their responses to criticism, but I think Ben Platt is living his life the way many run-of-the-mill not-overly-humble-or-emotionally-intelligent people would if they were in his position
Agree a lot with what you said. Even if he wasn’t right for the role of Evan in the movie, the online vitriol he’s received since then has been intense. I’d prob have my guard up to. Though I wish he’d answered the question as eloquently as he actually has in the past
I do feel bad for Ben, he seems like a generally good guy who just maybe takes himself a bit too seriously at times. He certainly is very talented and while the DEH film was a mistake again I feel he gets blamed when there were plenty of issues that weren’t his fault eg direction, make up etc. I loved him in Parade and DEH on Broadway - his was the only Tony it actually deserved…
If I were a celebrity’s child I would do everything to be the exact opposite of them. No designer clothes or fame, no social media, I would be the most un-celebrity punk kid you could possibly be and purposely ruin my dresses at all the fancy dinners 😈 have any of them actually done that? I’d love to see it…
tbh platt kinda just sounds insecure. he did come under a lot of fire as evan hansen after the movie came out. it honestly feels a little harsh to expect all celebrities to be - or at least appear to be - perfectly emotionally healthy, stable people. taking a joke is hard. esp when you're the type of person who takes things too seriously. and platt sounds like someone who kinda took the article to heart.
as a musical theatre fan, i dont even like evan hansen but i have to admit that platt's a great singer. why can't we just judge him on his singing, and the physicists on their physics, and the journalists on their journals. ppl are flawed, awkward things, and as long as they haven't done anything morally deplorable, maybe we should have lower standards for ppl in the public eye. platt's low self esteem and less-than-gracious answers just don't really feel like our problem. the industry's flawed, but i dont think individual ppl within it have to be perfect at answering for it. honest to god, i feel like the internets's already overwhelmed with a deluge of perfect publicist-approved people. it feels dystopian and commodifying. "no comment" is a perfectly reasonable answer.
Great reporting 😊. Well done
Yeah I think the whole 'nepo baby' conversation is about societal issues that go far beyond any one particular person (or even one particular industry). As inequality continues to increase - not just wealth inequality but also inequality of access to resources, including education, jobs, positions, etc. - there will be increased scrutiny on people who are by all measures 'successful' in what they do but could have/did have a significant amount of help from their parents' or family relations to any given industry. I personally think this scrutiny is warranted (WITH limits) since it allows us as a society and culture to best reckon with inequality and the idea of 'privilege' that many people continue to deny - and given the whole scrapping of affirmative action but not legacy admissions by SCOTUS this is just going to continue and even worsen. The whole Ben Platt sitch also just feeds the narrative more since it stokes the image of the typical nepo baby as being sheltered and given everything they could want and need and the moment they get slight pushback on any aspect of their career they shut down and shut out any critics who may have valid questions. I think it's really unfortunate for him because he is clearly very talented and could've been easily fixed by prepping an answer to a simple question - that he has been asked before!?!?!?! Btw - favorite color is orange :)
It's wild how hesitant these nepo babies are to acknowledge their parents support in any way. Like, there are so many accountants and like, marketing managers whose parents don't even do the same,and who don't have a problem thanking their parents for their support, bc even eithout nepotism that's who paid for these people's schools and colleges, esp in hollywood, where they all went to private schools. It's crazy how much they resist doing this, even if their dad literally made a movie so they could be in it. How did ben platt think he would not get these questions? They are completely legit when you are working with your literal dad. He needs to memorize a few lines about being grateful for his opportunities and there would be no news. How is it so hard to say, thanks dad, when you don't have a problem leveraging his connections and influence for your gain?
My position is I think probably a lot of people’s position on nepo babies which is that if they’re talented and use their God given ability to the best of their ability is fine with me. And bonus point for people like Maya Hawke who are honest about having connections and having parents who are famous and not be defensive about like Ben Platt
I didn't even know who Ben Platt's dad was until people brought up nepo babies. He wouldn't be where he is without his dad but honestly, he'd be close. He is super talented and you can't deny that. He doesn't owe anyone a response on interviews, he's human too and has rights like everybody else. In my opinion, he was a good Evan for the movie. He is on the soundtrack and is usually what most people think of when they say Dear Evan Hansen. His father pushed him into the light, but Ben grew his own career. Nepo babies don't choose who their parents are but it benefits them and that's just the way it is and it's weird to see people complain about it when this isn't anything new. Also, he has every right to defend himself, especially when everyone is talking about it. He doesn't owe anyone a response and for someone that works in journalism, you should know that. They can ask what they want but they don't have the authority to push him into answering. (not attacking you just saying my own thoughts :) )
Also the fact that the overall opinion Dear Evan Hansen (which was, no joke, hailed as so groundbreaking in 2015), has been continually worse has influenced some of the negative opinions about him.
Ben should have a perfect answer to that line of questing. His brother, Jonah, has tried and mostly failed to make a name for himself in entertainment. In fact, Jonah’s credits are almost exclusively in Marc Platt productions…which shows the limitations of nepotism. He’s been given every opportunity that Ben’s been given to no avail. Ben wouldn’t have the opportunities he’s been given without his father…but his meteoric rise wouldn’t be possible if he didn’t have the talent to back it up. Which makes it all the more irritating that he seems completely unwilling to admit that the place of privilege he comes from or at least acknowledge it.
My favorite color is gray.
And I can see the frustration they probably face like people doubting their abilities, but society has had nepo babies almost since the start pretty much. It's what they are able to do and how talented they are that speaks for them in the end.
Dan Levy is a funny nepo baby case studies because he always talks about his dads support, how great it was working on a show together, how lucky he is, etc etc etc except for some reason he says he doesn’t think nepo babies exist? And I say “he says” bc when he gives an answer he talks about how there needs to be more than “just nepotism” to make someone successful, which was never the argument lol
Also my favourite colour is pink, but I love all colours (this is such a good way of seeing if ppl have seen the whole video)
Binging ur videos bc you're awesome!!! Love your vids!!!
11:43 If you are a journalist, you have the opportunity to screen questions with celebrities. I learned this from Boze. If you ask something not in that screening, you are literally disrespecting that screening and disrespecting the celebrity. Basically you are both at work. It is the equivalent of being at work and someone goes "Could you clean the coffee machine?" "oh sure." "So your wife deep throated your best friend, how are you feeling about that?" Like???? HR would be like what the fuck because there are rules on what you can or cannot say and you disrespected the rules and the coworker.
Hey, new to the channel + love the content !!
It's a mix of entertaining and informative that I vibe with
Wanted to note that sometimes the mic audio level varies a bit, only noticed in areas like the difference between 8:32 and 9:48 🙇♀
Thought my headphones were buggin fahjsdgksdf
Y'all killin it tho, can't wait for the next upload
I think that Ben Platt probably lacks some insight about how being a nepo baby benefitted him. He probably feels like he worked hard to be where he’s at, even though he was given a leg up many times. So he probably takes it personally when people say he only got there because of his dad.
Purple and Pink are my top two fav colors! I can’t pick just one! 😩💜💗
Ben’s solo albums are beautiful, he has a song called “Dark Times”. He’s so talented.
Great video, but I would add that there's a lot of cynicism from the public around that issue. People always say stuff like "being a nepo baby isn't a problem, you just have to admit it" (this comment section is full of that), but that's a lie. The moment someone is called out as a nepo baby, most people (if not all) will change their perception of that person (for worse). So that's why I understand when Ben and some other nepo babies choose to just ignore the issue and go on talking about the work they're doing. If anyone cares to listen, great; if people can't look past the nepo baby thing and take said work seriously, that's fine too - at least you don't have to spend your time and your mental health trying so hard to come up with the right answer to say on an interview or post on twitter. I get the whole thing about acknowledging privilege, but it's not like the entertainment industry is the only context where people with the right connections have it easier (actually I don't even think it's one of the worst ones lol).
Pitch Perfect video! Nostalgia times. Fave colour is cerulean 😊
My favorite color is mustard yellow! Also I fully agree with your statement at the end. Wayyyy more energy and time is going into questioning nepo babies about their feelings about...being nepo babies (and most of them have bad reactions that are tone deaf as all hell at best which is unsurprising though still disappointing,) than actually making any attempt to find and shine more of the spotlight on the people who aren't (and ask about their work and perspectives in general! Not about the fact that they aren't nepo babies because like that is/would be equally as fucking useless.)
I wish that energy were put into helping close the gap/remove more of the barriers between those groups rather than giving the nepo babies the continued spotlight which they often use to throw fits because they're upset about being called a nepo baby. I think this would be (hopefully) less of a major issue of systemic prejudice and inequality that often purposefully shuts outs pretty much every minority group from the industry if we stopped giving a shit about how the nepo babies feel about being titled as such. Who cares? It's a true statement, and they can still be talented and work hard and whatever, because both things can be true at once, but also I still don't care if they dislike being called a nepo baby or something similar.
YES I’d watch a video on Pitch Perfect please do
Am I the only one who doesn’t think it was THAT bad? Like they just didn’t want to comment.
Agreed. Especially because he’s openly addressed his privilege before. I think Rolling Stone inflated it knowing the internets general opinion on him because they knew they’d get clicks. I mean look at the picture they chose of him? It’s all very pointed and honestly sad that people can’t recognize poor journalistic practices when it’s so obvious
i just love your videos!!
Cats exists in musical theatre and Dear Evan Hanson is ridiculous? Stahp!!!!
I’m the fortunate few who only know Ben Platt from Pitch Perfect and never cared to look him up again.
It’s kind of interesting. While I agree, people born to family connections have it easier probably getting into the field their parents have been in, because the resources and connections are there, it’s strange that fans or aspiring ambitious people who have to work their way in are almost expecting these people to validate what is basically common knowledge.
My parents got divorced when I was four, literally most of my living memory exists after my parents divorced. I was unfortunate to see both my parents marry and divorce a couple more times. I know kids who have both their parents, and those parents that truly love each other have more privileges than I in many regards. But I don’t need them to acknowledge their privilege and feel guilty or like they have an unfair advantage that I don’t. That just seems like tearing people down to a lower level just so we all can feel on the same page.
Cause I know I have privileges I was born into that others weren’t, but I won’t want all the actual challenges and accomplishments I made in my life to be challenged or for me to feel I’m just living in an unfair life compared to someone less fortunate.
My fav Colour is Turquoise💙
Ok I need a pitch perfect video
Schroedinger’s nepobaby!!!! I am dead
I can see how these question could trigger their imposter syndrome. They have had to deal with everyone asking if their daddy got them that role for probably their whole climb through the industry. It might seem like a slight on their efforts too because some celebrities must work harder to prove they are talented and deserving, not just privileged. Either way, I don't think it should be avoided.
I think the statement that nepo babies inherently don’t deserve the position they’re in is very reductive. They “deserve” it just as much as anyone does, they just had help others didn’t. Others may also be very talented, but they are not more deserving because of their lack of privilege.
You really should do a pitch perfect video!!
Did you get a new mic? Sounds so clean
My favorite color is also purple 💜
Schroedinger's Nepo Baby!! STOP lmaoooooooo
As far as Platt is concerned, I don't know if he *would* have a career without nepotism, only that he absolutely *could* have a career without it. He has the ability, he has the talent. Would he get the same brakes? Probably not, but I don't think the person who got them instead would be *better* at those things.
There are some performers who just...clearly couldn't get a job in that industry without mommy and daddy, but Platt isn't one of them.
He has talent, but he has no shame.
Hey, can I ask if i can suggest a video idea, can you cover how Crime Junkies Ashley Flowers ethics? She had plagarised others news articles and podcasts, which was spoken about on a podcast Murder Sheet. One news article was written by a journalist who was told by victim family member that they didnt want to know what happened at the end to the victim. Flowers had released word for word from her article without any care. She had promised to take down epsiodes but put them up weeks later. She had created a podcast called Red Box about te unsolved burger chef murders which is controvesial as the police investigator agreed to only give her production the police files which they didnt give to other media or the victims' families. This cause the police dept discipling the police investigator for this but keeping him on the job, but the consequence is they no longer give interviews to the media because they said that they have to disclose all info from the case which is not true. Another victim family got a chance for a news outlet to feature the case but it fell apart as they need the police interview and the police were not willing to do it.
Theres the other unethical part of letting the police investigator have control over the information featured in the red box podcast series.
Why do I feel like Ben Platt is just going through the same point as that irritating Woody Harrelson AMA for the movie "Rampart."
I'm a pink girlie personally. All shades. 💅
hell yeah do a pitch perfect video!
my favorite color is green :) i would love to see a pitch perfect video from you !
I like Ben, but i wish he'd just address it and get people off his back. It's like he doesn't realize that's probably all it would take for many people.
He has though. There’s a reason that those moments don’t go viral. The internet likes to hate this man
I mean, when you're fully in your 30s and your daddy is still buying you starring roles in films that he is also producing I think it's not only valid to be harsh against him, but totally warranted. There's nepotism, and then there's whatever Ben Platt has.
Yes pls to the pitch perfect video I remember seeing it in cinema haha
My fav colour is magenta... close enough to purple 💜
I think Trevor Noah said it well in his memoir; he said, (and I'm paraphrasing here) something along the lines of: "If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime, but what they don't tell you is that you should give the man a fishing rod. Knowing how to fish is fine and all, but not very helpful if you don't have the supplies." Nepo babies have the fishing rod, while non-nepo babies have to learn to fish without one/build their own. It takes up more time.
Yellow.