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Emma Roberts Just Called Out a Major Double Standard About the ‘Nepo Baby’ Debate

American Horror Story, Wild Child and We’re the Millers are only a few of the shows and movies that have established Emma Roberts as quite a powerhouse in the industry. But as she continues to star in one production after another, many might forget she’s a so-called “nepo baby” too.

Roberts, who’s the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and the niece of none other than Julia Roberts, has quite a famous family. According to her, however, being a so-called “nepo baby” has its fair share of challenges.

“Young girls, I feel like, get it harder with the nepo baby thing,” Roberts said on the Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi podcast, per CNN. “I don’t really see people calling out you know, sons of famous actors.”

But despite the double standard, the upcoming Space Cadet star added that not even male actors “should be called that.” “I don’t think anyone should be called out wanting to follow their dreams,” she said.

“I’m like, ‘Why is no one calling out George Clooney for being a nepo baby?’” Roberts questioned. “Rosemary Clooney [his aunt] was an icon.” Come to think of it, Roberts’ name has definitely come up much more than his in this conversation (In fact, our very own “Celebrities You Forgot We’re Nepo Babies” gallery is predominantly female).

WE'RE THE MILLERS, l-r: Emma Roberts, Will Poulter, 2013, ph: Michael Tackett/©Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
We’re the Millers, l-r: Emma Roberts, Will Poulter, 2013. Michael Tackett/©Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

But for Roberts, one of the hardest things about having family in the industry isn’t even that double standard.

“People like to say, ‘Oh, you know, you have a leg up because you’re a family in the industry.’ But then the other side to that is, you know, you have to prove yourself more,” she admitted. “Also, if people don’t have good experience being to be with other people in your family, then you’ll never get a chance.”

Most of all, Roberts thinks her fans only get to see her professional highlight reel, not the downfalls of her career too. “People kind of only see your wins because they only see when you’re on the poster of a movie. They don’t see all the rejection along the way,” she said. “I think it’s important to talk about because otherwise people just think, ‘Oh, you know, everything’s been so great and linear and easy, and it’s like, no… not at all. But of course it looks like that to the outside perspective or to the naked eye.”

Looks like being a so-called “nepo baby” is much more complicated than the world might think.

Before you go, click to see celebrities you didn’t know are from famous families.

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