Kim And Kanye’s Daughter North West’s Lion King Performance Sparks ‘Nepo Baby’ Debate!

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A viral video clip of North West, daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, performing as young Simba in a stage adaptation of The Lion King sparked accusations of nepotism on TikTok.

The stage adaptation is an official Disney production celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Lion King, and features several big names associated with the franchise, such as Billy Eichner, Bradley Gibson, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella.

Why Was North West Described As A ‘Nepo Baby’?

The viral clip showing North singing, “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,” one of the many iconic songs from the original animated film, was heavily criticized on social media.

Critics noted that North’s performance didn’t match up to her fellow singers and dancers, and questioned her appearance on stage.

Many commentators expressed sympathy for North and criticized her parents for setting her up for failure, labeling videos with the hashtag #nepobaby.

Others pushed back against the negative commentary, alarmed that the performance of a 10-year-old was sparking so much vitriol. In response, TikTokers clarified that the outrage wasn’t directed at North West, but at nepotism in the entertainment industry.

TikTok creator Laci Kole (@lacikolee) pointed out that North had likely taken the place of another talented performer, a lost opportunity for an unknown actor to shine.

TikTok creator @itsnickholiday argued that the audience had paid to watch the performance, and went on to compare North to Miley Cyrus (another nepo baby), emphasizing that Cyrus would not have received the same amount of criticism because of her immense talent.

The Cyrus comparison rings true — the internet only seems to get snarky about nepo babies when they fail to deliver on their opportunities (or complain about being labeled as nepo babies).

Who Are Other Hollywood ‘Nepo Babies’?

Sofia Coppola, daughter of Francis Ford Coppola, was heavily criticized as a beneficiary of nepotism during the early years of her acting career, but those criticisms melted away after she proved herself to be a talented director.

Nicholas Cage is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, but that connection is viewed as an interesting piece of trivia, because Cage is such a committed performer.

Jaden Smith, the son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, was widely praised for his performance in the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid, despite the film receiving mixed reviews.

This isn’t North’s first public performance, nor will it be her last — she previously voiced a character in the animated film, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, and has even announced her debut album, titled “Elementary School Dropout,” a reference to Kanye’s 2004 album “The College Dropout.”

There’s something of an irony in North playing Simba, another nepo baby (of hereditary monarchy, no less), a character plagued by self-doubt, who goes on to prove his rightful place on the throne.