In Defense of Nepotism

• Lori Palminteri
• Uncategorized
• March 7, 2025

In keeping with tradition of arguing for the unpopular opinion and/or being a true neutral, making majorities annoyed with me, I’d like to defend nepotism.

Between Hollywood or Washington, or even some shitty small company you work for, chances are, someone who’s related to a big shot has better treatment and a far better chance at being more successful. This is not to say that nepotism doesn’t infuriate me. All the time, I see people in entertainment I think are “okay” land writing jobs only to find out they are related to someone important. Even back in the day, when I was a teenager, working for a catering company, there was this nephew of one of the owners who was the laziest, most entitled piece of shit who perpetually complained how his parents bought him a used car for his 18th birthday and not a new one. We all know those kinds of assholes, and the examples are endless… but not all Nepo babies are awful.

For example, in entertainment, there are plenty of Nepo babies I love— Dan Levy, Jack Quaid, Kate Hudson, Margaret Qualley, John David Washington, the list goes on and on. Did they have an easier time than someone without famous family making it? Absolutely! But that doesn’t necessarily make them less talented or hardworking. Of course they are going to take advantage of their advantages. Wouldn’t you?

This being said, I do love to see someone with zero connections break through the barriers and “make it.” Who doesn’t love a rags to riches story? Or even a middle class to riches story? That is far more inspiring, of course.

Here is my case for nepotism: simply, you would do the same for the people you love. If I sell screenplays and my nephews and niece want any part of show business, you bet your ass I will do whatever I can to help them. This doesn’t mean I’d sabotage someone else, but it does mean that I will favor them (they would have to work for it, however). Because I love them. Like, a lot. Love is the most powerful of all emotions, and it’s not that I’d root against their competition, but I am, and always will be, their number one cheerleader. So, to fully be against nepotism is to be against love, to some degree.

The world and society is built on nepotism. I cannot, in good conscious, judge people for doing exactly what I’d do their position. I WISH I had family in show business. Instead, if I wanted to get ahead working for the railroad (not to brag), that’s where most of my family pull is. Yes, we live very much in a dog eat dog world. But we also live in a “dog helps their pups because they love them” world.

Someone once said that envy is wanting what someone else has, while jealously is wanting what someone else has in place of them. It’s pretty normal to, say, see someone on a yacht and wish you had a yacht. But it’s toxic to wish someone else’s yacht would sink. Hopefully, you can tell the difference within yourself and adjust your outlook/attitude if you find yourself being a not so nice person. Like modern day philosopher Sheryl Crow said, “it’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.”

Even though most Americans are struggling, much of the world would consider us privileged. I’d encourage anyone to take care of themselves first, and their loved ones (especially children), but if you are in a position to prop up an acquaintance or even a stranger, do it. Because people who have been shown kindness or given breaks in the face of adversity are more likely to pay it forward themselves. But also, remember, probably no one is going to favor you over their own kin, and that is more than likely okay.