Nepo baby, a term that some people have noticed after a magazine featured celebrities who had many privileges in their lives to enter the industry.
The term quickly became a trend, because people named celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, who owns a billion dollar beauty company Kylie, the rest of the Kardashian family, Paris Hilton, Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow and others have become successful and famous because of their parents.
“Nepo” is short for nepotism, which is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as “giving an unfair advantage to your own family if you have power, especially by giving jobs.”
Some argue that nepo babies have a right to fame and success, while others say they get an unfair advantage in the industry.
So, you might be wondering why acclaimed British actor Benedict Cumberbatch is listed as a nepo baby.
Nepo baby
Vulture magazine caused an uproar in December after publishing a nepo baby report.
According to online data, after 3.5 million Google searches in the past month, Miley Cyrus is the most popular nepo baby in January 2023, the statement read.
Cyrus is the daughter of famous country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and her godmother is music legend, Dolly Parton.
In second place is reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian with 1.5 million searches. Kardashian is the daughter of the late attorney and businessman Robert Kardashian, who rose to fame after defending OJ Simpson in his 1995 murder trial.
Simpson was found not guilty.
READ ALSO: WATCH: Kevin Hart dances Mshoza in Sandton
Sisters Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian are also highly searched on Google. Kim’s sister, Kylie, is in third place with more than 1.1 million searches. Socialite Kris Jenner’s mother is a manager, she is married to former Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner.
The rest of the list is included Emily in Paris actor Lily Collins, is the daughter of actor and singer Phil Collins. It also includes Bella Hadid, whose mother is Dutch model Yolanda Hadid and real estate developer Yolanda and American Mohamed Hadid.
All of them appeared in Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Cumberbatch’s slavery
Some names on the list are expected, but Benedict Cumberbatch’s name is not. The internet was rocked last month when it was revealed that his family benefited and profited from slavery in 18th and 19th century Barbados.
Cumberbatch may have been asked to pay compensation after his ancestor, Abraham Cumberbatch, bought a sugar plantation on the island in 1728.
Once a British colony, Barbados says its debt, both financial and spiritual, remains significant for the hardships brought about by slavery.
Cumberbatch has not commented on the report.
Compiled by Sandisiwe Mbhele