Steven Spielberg’s 24-year-old daughter, Destry Spielberg, denounced the allegation that she’s been given the opportunity to direct movies because of her famous and powerful Oscar-winning father.
Weighing in on the heated Twitter debate that broke out this week over her new gig — working with the offspring of other Hollywood elite on a new short film — Destry Spielberg owned up to her “privilege” but maintained that she “worked hard” for her opportunities.
“People can argue nepotism, But i know deep down that I worked hard to get where I am and it wasn’t easy,” Spielberg asserted on Wednesday, in a tweet she’s since deleted, E! News reported.
The debate began on Tuesday when the trade publication, Deadline, announced that Spielberg would be directing a new short film, “The Rightaway,” starring Sean Penn’s son, Hopper, with a script by Stephen King’s son, Owen.
Film producer Franklin Leonard responded to the tweet announcing the film by quipping, “Hollywood’s a meritocracy, right?”
Hollywood's a meritocracy, right? https://t.co/jELCVujYyB
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) July 28, 2021
Franklin, who founded The Black List to promote worthy but overlooked screenplays, has previously been vocal about the ways that Hollywood makes it difficult for underrepresented groups to get opportunities for work, particularly behind the camera, E! News reported.
Leonard was making the obvious point that several people involved in “The Rightaway” have family connections to major industry players. He also suggested it was unusual for Deadline to give coverage to a short film, and no doubt was only doing so because of Destry Spielberg and Hopper Penn’s family connections.
The debate heated up when Ben Stiller replied to Leonard’s tweet by writing: “Too easy @franklinleonard. … Everyone has their path. Wish them all the best.” Stiller, of course, is the son of the late prominent comedians and actors, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.
Stiller continued by saying he doesn’t know Destry Spielberg or Hopper Penn personally but asserted, “I would bet they all have faced challenges. Different than those with no access to the industry. Show biz as we all know is pretty rough, and ultimately is a meritocracy.”
Leonard agreed that the Oscar winners’ children have probably faced challenges because “they’re human,” but he again rejected the claim that the entertainment industry is a meritocracy. “If it were, how do you explain the utter lack of diversity behind the camera? Lack of merit?”
Stiller conceded that diversity and access to opportunities is an issue in Hollywood, but argued 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 the suggestion that he never acknowledged having an early advantage in the industry because of his parents, the Daily Mail added.
“I totally owe a huge debt to my folks and in no way have said I didn’t,” Stiller said.
Amid Leonard and Stiller’s back-and-forth, Destry Spielberg piped in with her since-deleted tweet, which began: “I am just a young aspiring female filmmaker who admires the art of cinema.”
Spielberg followed up with a tweet that said, “I acknowledge that i was born with privilege! I own that through and through!” She also said she makes it her “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.”
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.
— Destry Spielberg (@destryallyn) July 29, 2021
One user hit back at her statement by asking: “So casting hopper penn, another nepotism baby, is bringing in new talent?” Someone else reminded her that her film uses a script from Stephen King’s son.
A writer named Damon Ferrara told Spielberg: “Connections are a really frustrating brick wall for most of us, and they doom the dreams of many talented people. I know a lot of us are taking that frustration out on you, and I’m sorry for that. You didn’t create the current system; you’re simply better positioned to reform it.”
The debate also was covered on “The View” on Thursday, while the discussion on Twitter brought in some counter-arguments, notably about how nepotism is common in other industries — as in, parents using their connections to get their children internships and jobs, and children inheriting family businesses.
Overall, people said it was foolish to claim that merit is the only reason that people in succeed in Hollywood.
Stiller, in particular, came in for a drubbing, with one person sharing a quote about how Stiller made his acting debut at age 9 on his mother’s TV show. Someone else wrote: “I love Ben Stiller, but I think it’s pretty clear that the son of famed comedic actor Jerry Stiller has a dog in the ‘nepotism in Hollywood’ fight. Just sayin.'”
Another person said: “Getting in the door has never been a meritocracy. It is a clearly relationship-driven situation. And ‘lesser’ jobs lead up ladders. And those jobs have not been as available to POC and women, except in very specific niches for women. Once in the door… more like a meritocracy.”
An actress added: “It’s easier to get what you want if you get more opportunities, people already in the industry to guide & help you, and a safety net if you fall. My search for a lit manager is a lot of unopened emails and my life as an actress is only a handful of auditions a year even with reps.”
