The 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' star defends his children, whom he shares with ex Reese Witherspoon, for following the footsteps of their famous parents.
- Mar 22, 2024
AceShowbiz - Ryan Phillippe has spoken out against Nepo Baby label. While he's not one of celebrities who have been enjoying the perks of having famous parents, his children surely have and he has come to their defense.
In a recent interview with "Extra", the actor admitted he's "annoy[ed] about ... nepotism talk" in Hollywood. "So many people grow up and end up doing what their parents do to some degree or another," he argued.
The 49-year-old, who shares daughter Ava, 24, and son Deacon, 20, with his ex-wife Reese Witherspoon, added, "I always get offended for the children of actors and entertainers when people bring that up because, yeah, of course, that's what they've grown up around. These kids have grown up watching on set with Reese or with me. It seems natural, I think."
Deacon is pursuing a career in music, which Ryan is "insanely" proud of, but he is also acting like his parents. The "Cruel Intentions" star further teased that his son may join him on the set of an upcoming series soon.
"He may be ... playing my character's brother in the flashbacks, so I'm kind of excited about that possibly happening," the "I Know What You Did Last Summer" star spilled to the outlet.
Asked whether Ava is also interested in being in front of the camera, Ryan said his eldest child is "getting her feet wet." He noted, "She's taking time to kind of figure out exactly what it is she wants to do."
Ryan's comments arrive months after Deacon was slammed online for showing off his luxury New York City apartment on TikTok. "Rich kids / nepo babies LOVE to avoid mentioning their extremely wealthy parents," one person commented on the aspiring actor's video. Another mocked Deacon by calling him a "trust fund baby."
Ryan is also a father to 12-year-old daughter Kai, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Alexis Knapp. As for Reese, she has 11-year-old son Tennessee with her second husband Jim Toth, with whom she has split since March 2023.
