The White Lotus Star Sam Nivola Hits Back At 'Nepo Baby' Comments

Sam Nivola as Lochlan Ratliff in The White LotusSam Nivola is once again firing back at the critics accusing him of being a so-called “nepo baby”.The White Lotus star – whose parents, Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, are both actors – was recently chosen by Variety as the cover star for its special Young Hollywood issue, alongside Stranger Things actor Finn Wolfhard and Water singer Tyla.In his accompanying interview, Sam was asked how he felt about being referred to as a “nepo baby”, a term used to describe those whose family connections have helped propel their Hollywood careers, which he laughed off.“Other than my genes, I don’t think I can attribute much of my success to my parents,” he insisted. “I feel proud that I’ve done it for myself, and sometimes in spite of them.”Sam continued: “I didn’t get my dad’s agent to call up so-and-so. I did it by myself.“I didn’t want to give anyone an excuse to be able to say that anything I’ve achieved has been because of anyone other than me. And I’m proud of that.”Introducing Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood cover star: Sam Nivola ⭐Read the cover story on Aug. 7. pic.twitter.com/2VLzbp6qtp— Variety (@Variety) August 5, 2025Back in June, Sam claimed that he’d actually become an actor in spite of his parents’ wishes.“My parents really didn’t want me to be an actor, which I totally get – I don’t know if I’d want my kid to be an actor. It’s a really mentally tough career to be in,” he admitted, during a joint interview with Monsters actor Cooper Koch.“And even if I had no success, I would want to be doing it. But they really didn’t want me to do it.” Sam isn’t the only member of the White Lotus cast who has faced accusations of nepotism, though, as his on-screen brother Patrick Schwarzenegger is the son of action movie icon Arnold Schwarzenegger and the journalist Maria Shriver.Around the show’s release earlier this year, Patrick revealed that Sam had actually confided in him on set that he was worried about being hit with questions about his family in interviews to promote The White Lotus.“I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t even know who Sam was or who his family was until like six months into [filming],” Patrick said. “He was, like, ‘Oh, I hope they don’t call me a nepo baby’. And I was, like, ‘Why?’.”Read Sam Nivola’s full interview in Variety’s Young Hollywood issue.READ MORE:Sam Nivola Answers The 1 Big Question Every White Lotus Fan Was Asking After The FinalePatrick Schwarzenegger Addresses Claims He Was Uncomfortable Shooting White Lotus KissEmily Mortimer Gets Real About Watching Son Sam Nivola's White Lotus Sex Scene

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