Catherine Zeta-Jones called out the "nepo-baby" culture in Hollywood, which has several star kids whose parents or aunts are already established in the entertainment industry. However, people often label the children as “nepo kids” simply because they chose to follow in the footsteps of their famous family members. But unlike what many people assume, being a nepo kid does not necessarily make their lives easy.

These star kids also face trials and tribulations as they try to establish their own identities in the industry. That is perhaps why many have expressed their dislike of the term over the years. Most recently, Catherine Zeta-Jones spoke about how she feels the label is unjust.

Catherine Zeta-Jones married Michael Douglas in 2000, and the couple has two children, Dylan and Carys. Their children are also following in their parents’ love and passion for acting and filmmaking as they slowly work toward building careers of their own. Speaking to The Sunday Times, the actress opened up about the term “nepo baby” and explained why she feels the label is terrible.

"This horrific phrase 'nepo baby' is horrible because these kids didn't ask to be born into this, they're finding their own way in life,” she said.

She added, "But they love it, and they're good.

She further spoke to The Sunday Times about how both of their children are happy with what they are doing. The actress added that if her children were not happy, she and Michael Douglas would have encouraged them to pursue different careers. Both their kids graduated from Brown University and have since begun working on several short films.

Carys, who holds degrees in film and international relations, made her New York stage debut earlier this year in a production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull. She is now set to appear in The Problem With Poets. However, Catherine Zeta-Jones is not the only celebrity to speak out about the term.

“Auditioning For Every...”- Sandra Bullock on Rejecting Hollywood’s Casting Couch

Several stars have previously pointed out how harsh the “nepo baby” label can be, and that includes Gwyneth Paltrow, who did not hesitate to speak about the criticism surrounding it.

Gwyneth Paltrow has previously called out the judgment surrounding star kids when they choose to follow in the footsteps of their parents or other famous family members. Paltrow herself is a star kid, having been born to actress Blythe Danner and director Bruce Paltrow. She has also spoken about the criticism surrounding “nepo baby culture.”

"I think it's kind of an ugly moniker. I just hope that my children always feel free to pursue exactly what they want to do, irrespective of what anybody's going to think or say," she said. 

Paltrow shares two children with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. She has argued that children should be allowed to pursue the professions they are passionate about without being judged for their family background. Not to mention, there is also immense expectation and pressure that comes with being the child of a famous person. No wonder several actors have spoken out against the “nepo baby” label.

The Hollywood Comeback Nobody Saw Coming – Why VistaVision Is Suddenly Everywhere

What do you think about Catherine Zeta-Jones' title about the "nepo-baby" title? Let us know in the comments.