Steven Spielberg’s daughter Destry Spielberg denounced claims of nepotism after her second directorial project was announced this week, to much criticism.
Weighing in on a heated Twitter debate about the nature of her success on account of her mega-famous father, the 24-year-old filmmaker owned up to her ‘privilege’ but maintained that she ‘worked hard’ to get where she is today.
‘People can argue nepotism, But i know deep down that I worked hard to get where I am and it wasn’t easy,’ she asserted in a now-deleted tweet on July 28.
‘I worked hard to get where I am’: Steven Spielberg’s daughter Destry denounced claims of nepotism after the nature of her success was brought into question upon the announcement of a second directorial project; pictured July 23
Destry’s latest project ‘Let Me Go (The Right Way)’ involves participation from a string of Hollywood elite offspring including a script penned by Stephen King’s son Owen, and a starring role by Sean Penn’s son Hopper.
After the very stacked film was announced via Deadline on July 27, disgruntled social media users — including Vanity Fair contributing editor Franklin Leonard — weighed in.
‘Hollywood’s a meritocracy, right?’ Leonard wrote, which eventually prompted Ben Stiller — another byproduct of Hollywood heavyweights Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara — to defend the film’s honor, before Destry responded to the commotion herself.
‘I am just a young aspiring female filmmaker who admires the art of cinema,’ her now-deleted tweet began. ‘People can argue nepotism, but I know deep down that I worked hard to get where I am and it wasn’t easy. Beyond proud of the team it took to make it.’
Speaking out: ‘People can argue nepotism, but I know deep down that I worked hard to get where I am and it wasn’t easy,’ Destry said in a now-deleted tweet
Silver spoon: ‘I acknowledge that i was born with privilege! I own that through and through!’ the filmmaker wrote
She continued to ‘acknowledge’ her privilege in a second tweet and spoke about it being her ‘mission to bring new talent into the industry’ — despite her very privileged collaborators.
‘I acknowledge that i was born with privilege! I own that through and through! I make it my mission to bring new talent into the industry & give opportunities to artists of all backgrounds. No one should be left out because of the connections they dont have.’
One user lambasted that statement as they responded: ‘So casting hopper penn, another nepotism baby, is bringing in new talent?’
Destry’s statements were prompted by a back and forth between Stiller and Leonard that picked up speed on the day her project was announced.
Daddy dearest: Despite her her statements, it remains impossible to acknowledge that doors were opened on account of being the daughter of a four-time Oscar winning director; pictured with Steven in 2019
Leonard — the founder of the Black List — had reposted the Deadline announcement on social media where he spoke about ‘meritocracy’ and continued to double down.
‘In fairness, this is apparently a short film. A short film whose casting apparently merited trade coverage.’
The Zoolander star responded to his criticism: ‘Too easy @franklinleonard. People, working, creating. Everyone has their path. Wish them all the best.’
Leonard retorted: ‘I do without fail, but I also think it’s important that we acknowledge those paths.’
And Stiller engaged in a dialogue. ‘Just speaking from experience, and I don’t know any of them, I would bet they all have faced challenges. Different than those with no access to the industry. Showbiz as we all know is pretty rough, and ultimately is a meritocracy.’
Call out: Vanity Fair contributing editor Leonard first tweeted in response to the Deadline article ‘Hollywood’s a meritocracy, right?’
Defensive: Stiller came to the defense of the film’s very stacked lineup of Hollywood babies and called Leonard’s criticism ‘too easy’
‘Challenges’: Despite the nature of their privilege, Stiller asserted that he said the kids of Spielberg, Penn, and King had all likely ‘faced challenges’
Hitting back: Stiller later seemed to take offense at implications he had not acknowledged being afforded a leg up in the industry on account of his parents
Leonard hit back: ‘I don’t for a second doubt that they’ve all faced challenges. They’re human. I simply reject the claim that the industry is – in the short term or long term – a meritocracy. If it were, how do you explain the utter lack of diversity behind the camera? Lack of merit?’
Stiller then replied: ‘100 percent agree. Diversity is much bigger issue. No question. And I see your point, access is access. So yes. I’m saying that untalented people don’t really last if they get a break because of who they are or know or are related to.’
He later seemed to take offense at implications he had not acknowledged being afforded a leg up in the industry on account of his parents.
‘Wow. Really? I totally owe a huge debt to my folks and in no way have said I didn’t. Why make broad generalizations? Your argument about diversity is very sound and I agreed with it.’
War of words: The Black List founder had lambasted the nature of the project’s media coverage on account of its stacked Hollywood offspring lineup