Jessica Biel hits back at nepotism claims as son appears in her film

Jessica Biel has shared her thoughts about nepotism as her eldest son begins exploring a career in film, insisting she won’t let him get ahead of other aspiring actors because of his famous parents.

The actress, 44, shares two sons, Silas, 11, and Phineas, six, with her husband, Justin Timberlake, 45. However, Biel has made it clear that being the children of two Hollywood stars won’t give them a free pass when it comes to pursuing opportunities in the entertainment industry.

But Silas has already made his debut on the big screen alongside his mother with a cameo appearance in her new Apple TV film Matchbox: The Movie.

She confirmed that Silas has expressed an interest in following in his parents’ footsteps, telling the Great Chat Show podcast that he had been ‘talking to us about wanting to be an actor’.

However, the 7th Heaven star reportedly told her son that, ‘there are kids who work really hard and they go to acting class and they’re in theatre class and they’re doing all the work. You can’t just take a part from that person just because you’re my son’.

She concluded: “That’s not cool. We’re not doing that.”

Silas Timberlake has made his film debut in the movie Matchbox (Apple TV)

Biel admitted that she and Timberlake, who also acts, had tired to keep their children ‘away from all of this’ but also reconciled that she doesn’t want to ‘squash their dreams’.

She went on to address her son’s cameo and explained that Jules Daly, who produced the film, asked whether her son would be keen to have a ‘little part’ in the project.

Biel said she wanted her son to pursue a different dream but explained how she and Timberlake reasoned with their son’s wishes. It all boiled down to Daly being involved as a producer and that the role that went to Silas was ‘not a big speaking part’.

She explained: “You would have to earn that part because we’re not starting that, ‘Oh, you just get handed a bunch of opportunities because you’re part of this family’. We’re not doing that.”

This isn’t the first time celebs have weighed in on the debate around “nepo-babies”, or the children of famous people who benefit from nepotism when pursuing a career in the arts.

A debate is currently raging on social media surrounding Biel’s new comments on the topic and people are divided.

Jessie Biel spoke out about nepotism (Gotham/GC Images)

“I wish celebrities were just honest about this stuff because I would shamelessly have my kids in every production I was a part of if I was [an] actor, director, producer,” one person shared on Reddit.

Another person argued: “What decent parent ISN’T trying to help their kids get a leg up in their goals? But please stop pretending it’s not a huge advantage.”

Sylvester Stallone weighed in on nepotism after his daughter was cast in his TV show Tulsa King. The 80-year-old declared the move was ‘of course nepotism’ and said he would ensure his kids ‘have every advantage’ in life.

“Stallone handled it much better,” a third Reddit user argued. “It is nepotism.”