I feel like a creepy old lady whenever I look at photos of Brooklyn Beckham or discuss him in any way. It’s not even that I “creep” on him – he’s a nice-looking kid, but I have no feelings about him. He’s only 16 years old! And I remember when he was a baby. So, basically, whenever I look at photos of Brooklyn, I feel old. This feeling of creepiness and age washed over me when Brooklyn began modeling a few years ago. Now a new feeling is coming on: disgust. At 16, Brooklyn is not content to be a social media star, model and celebrity personality. No, he’s now a photographer! A professional photographer. Hired to shoot the latest Burberry campaign, the kind of job Mario Testino would have normally booked. As you can imagine, there’s some pushback.
Most teenagers could at most dream of an internship at a fashion house where the biggest task they would be entrusted with would be making the tea. So when Brookyln Beckham, 16, stepped behind the lens this weekend to shoot Burberry’s latest ad campaign, it understandably led commentators to question how the teenager managed to land such a prestigious role. Fashion fans and professional photographers alike took to social media to express their unhappiness, claiming ‘nepotism’ was at play.
Jak BetLoos posted on Twitter, saying: ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know and it’s totally unacceptable.’
Jacqui was of the same mind and commented: ‘Yep, I guess names really do sell. Sheer nepotism.’
Dani V agreed saying: ‘I love the Beckhams but 16-year-old Brooklyn being the photographer for a major Burberry campaign is peak nepotism.’
Harry Harris commented sarcastically, ‘Blimey, life’s hard being well-connected.’
A lot of teenagers go through a photography phase where they mess around with cameras and equipment and dark rooms and such. I imagine it’s even easier these days to play around with the mechanics of photography, given the prevalence of digital photos, camera-phones and high-quality iPhones. Maybe I’m a purist, but I do think that major fashion labels should just hire real, professional photographers though. It would be one thing to make into a hook, like “everyday people taking high-fashion photos and that’s our ad campaign,” but this is not that. This is Burberry hiring David Beckham’s teenage son to shoot a legitimate ad campaign like this kid is a pro.
Here are some photos of Nepotism Beckham at the Burberry show last month.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Instagram.
Um, yes – nepotism. With a big “ick” factor hovering over it.
I know nepotism happens in all industries, not just in this one, and I know anyone in his position would have taken the job, but this makes me sick. And it makes me angry. And I know it’s wrong of my part, but I think less of people who were born rich, who went to private schools, who got their jobs like this etc. I know it’s prejudice, but sometimes you just can’t handel the frustration.
I once read someone commenting that the world today looks more and more like the last 200 years of the Roman Empire before it all came crashing down. Unless something drastic changes, I don’t see things ever getting better.
@locke lamora – yeah, I totally understand the anger and frustration. The system is rigged against the 99 percent, while the 1 percent get richer and more opportunities handed to them on a silver platter. It’s understandable that we feel this way.
you don’t need to apologize. People who get those jobs when they have all the connections only think they work as hard as other people do. They don’t, because they work in optimal circumstances. They have all the resources at their fingertips to maximize their advantage at every opportunity. Meanwhile, people who don’t have to create advantages using limited or minimal resources. It takes more time, more effort, more creativity and often far more drive. And that’s why people who do more with less are also more deserving. You don’t need to apologize for thinking the wealthy and privileged are less deserving because in reality, they almost always are. They simply do more…with more. Why should we applaud?
I agree with you Locke Lamora.
People talk about diversity but this is also a sort of sign of how non diverse society is becoming. Opportunities are awarded to the white and/ or rich.
Big derail. I LOVE Locke Lamora. He’s too cool for school.
And the worst thing is, he doesn’t even need the job. I mean, I’m sure he wants to be independent and make a career and earn his own money and of course there’s nothing wrong with that, bu yeah, pretty sure someone out there actually needed this job. (Plus, he’s still a kid.)
@Maum
Yes, he is! “I only steal because it’s heaps of fucking fun!”
Sometimes it really is who you know. He has connections, I don’t blame him for using them.
Sorry, not cute. Looks like mad magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman
For a similar observation — he looks like a brown haired Rick Astley, a man who personifies the concept of “a face for radio.” Too bad Brooklyn almost certainly lacks Astley’s vocal talent.
OMG… totally Rick Astley! He got all of his mom’s elf-face and none of his dad’s hot.
Agreed, not cute.
But I have to say that I think Tommy Lee and Pam Anderson’s son, who is also a model, and a littler older, is way more attractive: http://nypost.com/2016/02/02/pamela-andersons-hot-son-cant-keep-his-shirt-on/
+1 Cliniqua
Yep, it’s ridiculous. And while it’s not really relevant, he’s a perfectly pleasant but quite ordinary looking kid.
Think he’s an ordinary looking teenager. Not someone to swoon over. Unlike his father. Don’t want to be mean, but he looks like mom, not dad. His mom has a certain cachet, for sure. But Beckham is a gorgeous man!
At first glance I thought that was a Jonas brother.
His face could illustrate the word “nepotism” in a dictionary
Pretty much this.
Also, thirsty. This kid wants it sooo badly. And his parents support it. Pathetic.
I don’t know. I used to teach art to children 4-6 and they were incredible. Maybe he brings something really fresh to the table?
Are you kidding? Maybe he has some talent but theres no doubt this is nepotism of the most obvious sort. Last year this kid was going to be a footballer when that didn’t work he decides he wants to try photography, within months he shoots a major fashion campaign. Nepotism at its worst. Furthermore i would say its bad for his character. He is not learning to work for things. He basically gets the idea he wants to be a photographer and starts at the top because of who his parents are. I think its actually quite disappointing that the Beckhams think this is a good idea.
exactly. i mean, i would have give him a pass if he was shooting a fashion campaign for his mum, but for burberry is ridiculous. go to uni first, or get some experience. otherwise it’s blatant nepotism.
No, I’m not kidding. You have no idea whether or not he’s any good and you don’t care. I have no idea whether he’s any good, but I have real things to be bitter about. Kid gets job he probably doesn’t deserve. Big deal.
I think it is a big deal. Each individual case may not be, but lack of diversity transcends race and is very much an economic issue as well. I feel like shrugging this off is very much like shrugging of Fiennes’ role as Michael Jackson.
If you could use your connections to be successful and make a lot of money you would do it. Besides, Jaden Smith stays in the spotlight because of his father so the Beckhams are no different than anyone else in their tax bracket.
I don’t think it has to be a case of just blatant nepotism. Sure, he got the job based on his name – but if the kid is a great photographer – and it IS a possibility – then good for him.
I understand WHY this makes so many people angry – but sadly nepotism is an incredibly common thing, and it’s in every day life – not just celebrity life. How often do people with connections get interviews based on that? How often will a manager look at a stack of resumes and recognize a name, and give the benefit of the doubt. Is it right? Not necessarily, but it’s foolish to think that nepotism isn’t running the world. When it’s happening with every day people, we call it networking.
I’m not going to fault him for taking the advantage he’s given. He’s got the connections, and if he’s talented, then great. I’d much prefer to see a celebrity kid who’s actually interested in working, and has the drive to go out and put themselves on the line like this, than the kind of celeb kids that coast on mommy and daddy’s bank account and do nothing.
Very well stated, Erin, and I agree with everything you’ve said. A lot of regular people benefit from nepotism and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. My children are young, but if they’re interested in a field when they’re older and I know someone in said field who can give them a chance at real world experience, I would definitely ask.
If he turns out to be crap at it and they continue to give him opportunities, then that’s a problem, but outside of that… I have no problem with this.
It’s still nepotism Erinn. Another kid out there could be a great photography talent he still wouldn’t get that chance at such a prestigious job. He’s supposed to be leading a team of assistants, lighting assistants, make up, hair team and models. Do you really think thet typically give jobs like that to 16 years olds with no experience. I could buy that you could get a job assisting a top photographer if you are a well connected 16 year old. But actually taking the job from the top photographer? No way.
Nepotism is when you can get in doors other people can’t get in because of who your parents are. This fits Brooklyn to a T.
Sorry, calling BS. Stinks of nepotism to high heaven. Kid is just old enough to get a drivers license. Not to helm a major fashion campaign. Fronting like he’s just that talented due to his parents’ super genes. Nope, not buying it (or Burberry).
I feel he’s too young for this particular job. When Jaden Smith was cast in The Karate Kid, his age at least fit the role and he was being directed by other people to do the job — he wasn’t the actual director. I have no idea how a 16 year old can get a bunch of older assistants to listen to him in any kind of capacity (I suspect that’s why he’s being called out for this more so than a celebrity kid choosing to do acting or modelling). He’s not just the photographer, but also administering duties in an executive capacity. If he were at least 21, the nepotism or social media aspect (whatever the reason for why he was hired) probably wouldn’t jump out at me too much, even if he’s still a bit on the young side for the job. I imagine the 25 year old assistants with a degree from Leeds or wherever mocking him behind his back after he assigns each of them their duties. Sounds like he’ll have a certain amount of authority in his role, and very rarely have I seen a 16 year old manage the authority aspect very well (if ever). 16 year olds can’t even get other 16 years old to listen to them.
What Erinn said.
Also, you people wouldn’t last a day at a the family-owned company I work for. Y’all don’t KNOW nepotism.
So he can’t be any good because he hasn’t had any experience? I won my very first municipal court & landlord tenant case within my first month of practicing law.. and I was only 26, no experience and got the two cases because of… NEPOTISM…..
Unless he’s actually talented, his name will only get him so far. No one will continue to book him otherwise.
He’s 16, not 26, though. I think if he had gotten this job at 22 or so, people wouldn’t be so wary or wouldn’t even care about the nepotism or him potentially sucking.
@Tammy
What perplexed said. It would be a different conversation he if were 22 and had a photography degree!
He can be good, but very few people are THAT good at 16. There’s always room to learn and grow. I highly doubt he is good at everything: selecting models, choosing location, lighting, posing, post-production… Very few people have that down pat. I think the odds that the son of Beckham’s just happened to be that one-in-a-million talent are very very low. Considering they already have 2 of their kids modeling, they are clearly not shying away from hooking their kids up for life.
Yes, 2 of their children just happened to be 1-in-a-million models, and he is also a 1-in-a-million photographer. Just happened. No strings pulled.
The problem is, he could actually be really good but nobody will ever be able to look beyond the Beckham label because he’s only 16. Nobody else would have gotten this job at 16 years old. Nobody. Because no other 16-year-old, no matter how genius, would get the opportunity to get in contact with a major fashion house. So he and his parents kinda shot themselves in the foot with this one. If he’s really great, he’ll be great in a few years when he’s paid his dues. Like his parents, btw. They WORKED for what they achieved.
Btw, I personally have no problem with this at all. It’s the same in every industry, in every line of work. You know people, you have better chances at getting ahead. It’s never going to change and I can’t waste time getting upset over it. This is also the same industry that still hires Uncle Terry. Let’s not pretend this is the worst thing ever.
Yeah, I think it’s his age that might be problematic in the public seeing his potential, not even his last name.
My husband works in my company as the operations manager. Nepotism. My brother works in the same place my dad does. Nepotism. Brooklyn got this job because of nepotism AND it has worked. Looked at the additional Pr coverage this campaign has gotten because of it.
Yeah, but your husband and brother were probably older when they got their jobs.
We have no idea if the PR coverage has worked though. I don’t think sales have suddenly shot up through the roof in a day.
I think it’s more about Burberry wanting to connect with Brooklyn’s audience than nepotism. Like how Kendall Jenner was hired by Estée Lauder.
Hey if I had 20 million IG followers I could probably secure the gig of shooting the burberry campaign.
Exactly.
Yeah, I’m sure Burberry didn’t do it just because of his name. And so what? People are certainly getting in an uproar over nothing.
Why didn’t he use his connections to find a nice internship with a professional photographer? That would be much more acceptable and would show that he is humble and willing to learn, committed even. If there’s a way to use that sort of influence, at least as I see it, is exactly like that, give them opportunities to learn, don’t hand them everything that professionals only got access after years of practice.
Because he’s been led to believe that just by being born with the surname he has he’s the one people will intern for, not the other way round. He’s here to teach, not to be taught. It’s the same attitude that Will Smith’s kids have, remember that philosopher of his is gonna set up an office at MIT iirc. I thought the Beckhams brought their kids up more in touch with reality, not sure why but I really did. Disappointing.
Why is everyone hating on this kid? Why should Brooklyn find a “nice internship with a professional photographer” when he can BE the photographer. If the Beckhams were poor and begging for a job would they be more “acceptable” to you and make you feel better about yourselves? Being poor sucks and being rich is fantabulous.
Hollywood is full of people who use connections to get ahead, I would too if I had the opportunity. Who you know makes the world go around.
@whatthe: Doing what others do because “if they do it maybe I should do it too” isn’t right on my book. No one is “hating on the kid”, people are annoyed by how kids with influence and nothing else have stuff given to them taking away opportunities from others without working for it. In this case we have real photographers complaining about it too.
He doesn’t have to be poor or pretend he doesn’t have connections, this is about a person having the awareness to know their place in the big picture and not taking advantage just because they can. Getting an internship with a good photographer isn’t easy, so having that opportunity is already a great way to start if you want to learn… Unless you really just know everything.
I agree, he could do interesting work and I don’t think it’s that much of a crime for him to be hired. So what if one time, a well-connected kid shot a campaign for Burberry? Nobody freaks out when his brother models for them.
I just think this kind of thing feeds into this narrative we constantly hear about how “I work hard, that’s why I’m successful”–the least believable narrative when it comes from wealthy kids. A lot of ppl dislike that narrative, but to his credit Brooklyn isn’t contrIbuting to it. He probably just thought it was a fun opportunity.
The thing that grates my nerves is that a lot of ppl complaining about Brooklyn here would then turn around and fail to acknowledge how other people like minorities are systematically excluded from these sorts of opportunities. There’s like this weird disconnect where ppl get enraged when a system isn’t perfectly fair to THEM but they can’t see how the system doesn’t even operate on principles of fairness, period.
LOL
Duh, what do you think–he’s some kind of child prodigy photographer?
Is it nepotism? Sure. But it’s not public service, they can do whatever they want. Would Kate Hudson or Dakota Johnson or Jaden Smith get acting jobs if it wasn’t for their parents? I’m sure their roles could have been played by hard working unknowns.
I don’t think people would mention the nepotism in his case if he wasn’t only 16 years old and doing the photography for a campaign. It’s more the type of job he’s doing that sort of raises one’s eyebrows. It’s not unusual for kids Jaden Smith’s age to act in front of the cameras (regardless of where their last names came from), but is it common for 16 year olds to get the chance to do a photography campaign for a fashion house? I know he has an internship, but his level of responsibility for this job seems high for his age. Maybe he’s been training since he was 5 years old in photography, but isn’t he doing an actual professional photographer’s job here? That strikes me as highly unusual. Before I opened the post fully, I thought he’d simply be modelling like Justin Bieber, but then when I read he’d be the actual photographer for a campaign, I thought to myself “A 16 year old is allowed to do that??? I want to go back to being 16 and try and find myself a job like that!”
I know it’s mostly a publicity thing and Burberry want his followers, but I had to fight tooth and nail for my internship at Condé Nast yet this kid gets it handed to him. Which is completely at odds to how his parents got to where they are.
Good to know my £9000 a year Photojournalism degree and hardwork is still going to get me places. *sulks*
Same with Lily-Rose Depp & Kevin Smith’s daughter they would’ve never gotten an acting job if it wasn’t for who their parents are. There’s a long list of nepotism in Hollywood so I’m not surprised about this, just last month Jaden was the new face of Louis Vuitton womenswear. You know it wouldn’t bother me so much if they were talented or went to acting school or modeling or singing etc but they do not.
i feel the same. it’s not like children of famous people can’t be talented as well, in fact some really are, but so many of them are average at best yet they get the best jobs.
Oh yes! A teenage boy as the face of womenswear. Like that’s not all kinds of effed up. Why is it the barely talents are getting these opportunities as teenagers? Lily Rose Depp – please.
It’s yet another area of arts&entertainment that’s being taken over but mediocre but well-connected children of famous people. When it was models it was harmless but now it’s getting ridiculous and over time could really affect the level of art we’re exposed to. At the rate this is going, in 20 years the only books that’ll get published will be written by the Twilight woman’s kids, and all the Oscars will go to the Kardashian spawn.
Um yes is all I had to say about this also
I can’t tell which parent he looks like — it’s really hard to tell in his case. I guess he knows it would be better to go behind the lens instead of in front of it, since he’s not as handsome as his dad.
Is this comment for real? He’s 16, he’s just at peak of growing in to himself. If someone saw a picture of me at 16, and then now at 25, you’d be in shock as to how I don’t even resemble my younger self.
Yes, it’s for real. I didn’t say he was ugly — I simply said he isn’t as good looking as his dad, which for the present time is true. Is it really unkind to say he hasn’t got his dad’s looks yet? His dad, unlike say Danny Devito, is, for better or worse, known for his highly sought after looks and modelling campaigns as much as how he bends a soccer ball. I didn’t say Brooklyn was a troll who should be locked away in a room somewhere. Furthermore, I was talking about his looks in the context of modelling and a fashion house (i.e Burberry), which focuses on looks, not your brain and your heart. In any other context, I wouldn’t care how he looks, but in the context of fashion, unfortunately that’s what people, including Brooklyn’s own mother Victoria, notice (which is why people have noticed how good looking Cindy Crawford’s kids and they’re the same age as Brooklyn. Seeing their names connected to certain contracts doesn’t make people question as much why they get to do a certain modelling project).
He’s a kid. Jesus.
His dad also wasn’t that attractive. It’s more to do with the fact that he was the most famous man on the planet at one point. Let’s hope he didn’t inherit his dad’s voice.
See my post above. I didn’t say he was ugly (I can’t even see the word “unattractive” in my post). I just don’t think he’s model material (the majority of us aren’t). His own mother, given the nature of her job and the industry she’s in, would have to critique him, whether she liked it or not, if he walked through the door. I didn’t say he was too ugly to work as a busboy in a nightclub or anything. If his looks cannot be remarked upon in the context of modelling and an unfortunately highly looks conscious industry, then I suppose we shouldn’t be commenting on what Kylie Jenner is doing to her face since she’s also under 25.
I also really can’t tell which parent he looks like. That was just a general observation. Where am I alluding to any kind of hideousness? Are people projecting their own perception of his looks on the more benign comments?
I commented before I saw your explanation. I see your point. Most models these days are rich rather than good. It’s all about social media fame, and celebrity kids have that.
I think he looks like Victoria, they all do, except Romeo.
I think he looks just like Victoria.
He looks like Victoria used to look like. You can’t do surgery on your genes, sadly.
Oh yeah, I can kind of see it now. His mother has such a well-defined face NOW, that it was kind of hard for me to see her features in him.
He has that pig nose of his mother – a bit of dad’s jaw, but definitely favors the mum, IMO. Maybe that’s why he’s not modeling again?
Wow.
Its always nepotism. No matter what MOST kids of celebs would like to think about “working really hard to make it on their own” we as the public know the truth
Nepotism for sure. Yesterday on Lainey’s intro she alluded to a David Beckham infidelity.. Anyone know anything?!
he’s been cheating since ever. nothing new.
Remember Rebecca Loos or the nanny in 2004
He is the spitting image of Victoria, isn’t he?
Agreed. Why don’t they get their noses done?
Of course it’s nepotism, it’s all nepotism, nobody’s giving these product of celebrity parents modelling contracts, acting jobs and photography shoots because of any talent, it’s because of the attention their parental association gets.
Remember when Rumer Willis got to pose for a clothing company and they hid her face in most of the photos and chopped half of it off with photoshop leaving her unrecognisable in the few pictures that she didn’t have something over her head??? These kids will be hired because of their parents no matter how unsuitable!!!!!!
lol no i don’t, do you have a link?
Yup, enjoy the pics too 😉
http://dlisted.com/2014/10/25/rumer-willis-is-pissed-that-someone-photoshopped-the-rumer-out-of-her-face-for-a-fashion-campaign/&ved=0ahUKEwiwhvDjttnKAhUDdQ8KHQjoAtAQFggaMAA&usg=AFQjCNHEmEwCHNfDxdYp0-SIGGWqclJqtg&sig2=UT8iztQTMbCV4TKVnKGJ1A
That link didn’t work, Google her name, dlisted.com and photoshop, it’s the first link
lmao, brilliant
working link http://dlisted.com/2014/10/25/rumer-willis-is-pissed-that-someone-photoshopped-the-rumer-out-of-her-face-for-a-fashion-campaign/
Those pictures are kind of funny. Poor Rumer.
Didn’t Rumer walk around NYC topless for the “Free the Nipple” campaign? Why wasn’t she arrested? That incident just proved that most kids in Hollywood have too much time on their hands. And she needed her head examined.
Wow. I was all set to blast the celebrity kid modeling trend, but this? Unbelievable.
I didn’t appreciate it when they hired him as a model – there is nothing special about his looks and I am SO tired of “models” whose only qualification is their name. But this is absolutely disgusting. A 16 year old doesn’t have the training and education to be a top notch photographer – and usually that’s who the major fashion houses hire, real pros with an impressive portfolio. This is a slap in the face of people who actually need the job – you know, to make a living. Shame on Burberry.
If the kid wants to play with a camera, get him an internship with a famous photographer to learn the business – with the family connection that would be so easy. This is a vanity project for Brooklyn, nothing more. Why can’t celebrity kids just be kids – go to school, play some sports, have hobbies, hang out with friends, read books, go to camp? Why do they all need to be designers, models, actors and now photographers? Interesting how none seem to have interest in non-glamorous jobs like physics, medicine, welding or farming. Only careers where their name can bring them every opportunity, interviews, red carpet appearances and lots of cash. Yuck.
“I didn’t appreciate it when they hired him as a model – there is nothing special about his looks”
same with depp’s kid, she’s cute at best but far from looking like a model.
And I’m surprised that a fashion brand that works consistently with professional photographers would be so dismissive of what they bring to the table. They don’t care about the photos, it’s all about who he is is, but shouldn’t fashion support one of the most important areas of fashion itself: photography?
Unless this is some sort of Instagram campaign it feels really wrong.
Yeah, I can see established photographers being annoyed at the implication that just anybody, even a 16 year old, can do their job. I don’t see them caring as much that he got the job at all or that he got the job through connections, but I can see them getting a little peeved at the suggestion that their photography skills have no real value and doesn’t take talent or time to hone. It’s from that vantage point where I could see irritation starting to brim, much more so than the nepotism angle.
Burberry must have stage 5 level of thirst to pull this latest stunt.
I’ll probably get backlash but…
I think advertising is all about getting as many eyes on your product as possible. He’s built a media presence for the demo their targeting….so it worked?!?
I get that professional photos will be put out but advertising is changing with digital media and this will probably be happening more and more.
If I was a parent of his I’m not sure I’d tell him to turn down an opportunity because some will resent it.
I am curious about the demographic point. Presumably he appeals to tweens/teens. Is that a valuable demographic for Burberry? I would have thought they skewed a bit older. Do teens buy Burberry these days?!
That’s what I was wondering too!
i agree with you. of course it is nepotism but it is not bad business and business is all that matters. if it were potentially bad for their profit margin – he would not have been hired. it is not like there are 500 unknown photographers getting edged out by brooklyn beckham. from burberry’s perspective, there are probably only 8-10 well established photographers they would consider for a campaign. they have a relationship with the beckhams and are letting the kid take a stab at it. who cares?
this happens with non-celebrities in normal jobs EVERY DAY.
Who cares? All the kids who actually go to photography school. All the kids who learn their trade. You know people who actually bother to learn their craft. 16 year old kids with no education or experience doesn’t get a stab at jobs every day. Btw How hard is it for Brooklyn to go to college and learn photography he wouldn’t even be saddled with student debts like the rest of us? Smh.
Meh. When I was in art school photography was considered the preferred major for mediocre artists. The result was that the photography department was rife with a WHOLE lotta average, with the few talented students being a world away from the rest. And this was 18 years ago, pre-Instagram when the digital age was still a thing of the future.
There’s a reason why I have six friends who consider themselves amateur photographers. Because it’s accessible to almost anyone, especially now that we have smartphones, affordable digital cameras, and fancy filters. None of my friends are bad photographers, but none of them are great either. Nice pictures but nothing ground-breaking or particularly interesting.
What I’m getting at is that I doubt this kid is any less/more talented than the average photographer but he has a famous dad so that sets him apart.
It’s nepotism but that’s life, you know?
Agreed.
All of those kids who struggled to learn their craft were NOT up for this job.
There probably wasn’t even a “job” opening, they just invited him because it’s great marketing.
your average photography student who has studied their craft is not and will not be up for a burberry campaign. those are the facts. the fashion world is small. a burberry campaign is big. i don’t feel bad that bruce weber or steven klein didn’t get a job because of a marketing stunt. shouldn’t we be especially happy someone beat out terry richardson or juergen teller?
Exactly my thought. You get no flame from me. I agree.
Totally agree.
He seems nice and well-mannered, but of course this is nepotism.
Just to be the advocate’s devil, I am going to offer my 2 cents here..
I don’t like it, but nowadays (since we’re living in the “famous for being famous” and “Anybody with an Instagram account can be famous” era) this kind of nepotism makes sense.
If a company needs someone who’s selling and is able to grant a profit, they need to go where the money is at. Lily Rose, Kendall Jenner, Brooklyn Beckham, .. we can debate as much as we want about the legitimacy of the role they have gained (or been offered with), but the truth is, given their huge popularity on social media, they can provide a massive audience of potential buyers (and thus, advertisers). It’s sad, because not all of them (or, VERY FEW of them) have legitimate talent / work ethic / skills and competency. Many of them have never had a single struggle in their life and do not know the value of things gained through hard work. HOWEVER, if they bring money, it is only wise and smart business to employ them.
I sort of get how they’d make a profit from Kendall Jenner since she’s modelling the product advertised and you can see the face and match it to the product being sold. I don’t really get how Brooklyn Beckham doing the photography behind the lens really brings in any profit though. I guess he’ll post the pics on his Instagram, and the kids who follow him will know about his project, but I have my doubts anyone would go and buy a Burberry product if he’s not actually in the shoot where you can connect his face to what was being sold. Does he have a lot of teenage girl fans who are that dedicated to him and will buy anything he shills?
I agree with you here. I also don’t get why people are surprised at this – significant others of celebrities get magazine covers/jobs all the time because of their connection to the famous person (e.g. wives/girlfriends of professional athletes) and much of Hollywood wouldn’t have careers if they weren’t related to someone in the industry.
I am a little surprised because he’s doing photography, not acting or modelling, where technique might not be as remarked upon.
Exactly. Modelling requires no particular talent or experience. Non-professional actors can often deliver fantastic performances, and a talented director and editor can sometimes create a decent acting performance onscreen out of very little. Besides we’re all used to seeing terrible actors onscreen, often not even because of nepotism but just because they’re attractive.
Proper studio photography (as in, not iphone shots on IG) requires real technical know-how and experience.
One would think that people just learned what Nepotism is. BB is hardly the first person in the world who benefited from his connections and he won’t be the last.
@ Bishg, SNAP!
When I was 16 I was working at McDonald’s. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
I’m annoyed, but Burberry might be going after the buzz factor here, which will succeed. People will want to look at his campaign just to see how he did, which will get a lot of eyes on Burberry products. But I’m still annoyed.
As he knows he isn’t made to be a professional football player or a handsome model, Why don’t he take classes and be a real photographer ? It does look bad when a kid playing with a camera toy lands a Burberry add.
Disgust ? Really? This is not the first case of nepotism in the history of the world and its not even the worst case of nepotism. It’s Burberry’s choice .
I’m not disgusted, but I do think it’s kind of funny. Well, thankfully, he isn’t getting the chance to perform a heart surgery, I guess.
@perplexed
LOL
Disgust? No. It’s kind of sad though. Who knows, maybe Nepotism Beckham and the others like him have actual talent. These kids’ parents could afford top training in any discipline followed by Juilliard, RADA, MIT, Yale, whatever!
But no, they don’t train. They will coast on mommy and daddy’s names and be decidedly mediocre. What a waste.
Well, I think all cases of unadulterated nepotism are disgusting, personally.
Whatever, he’s a decent photographer. Let him live.
The Beckham children are so cute! It’s nepotism of course but people like the Beckhams much more than they like the Smith family and the Kardashian/Jenner clan. So I doubt people will complain as much.
I’ll judge when I see the outcome. Who knows? He might be actually good in photography. Lol.
There are thousands of kids on instagram who are good at photography. This guy was chosen because of his famous parents.
Instagram is what people consider photography these days? No need to actually develop your film in a darkroom or anything huh?
Just slap a filter on it, crop it up, and boom.
I realize I sound like an old art fart so if you have some IG links of good photography or anything you’d like to share to prove my old ass wrong, I would love to see it.
One of the Beckham’s other kids, Romeo, was a model in the shoot. So yeah, lots of nepotism going on.
On a different tangent, I dislike it when news sources cite random Twitter comments in an article. It always manages to look ridiculous.
The Beckhams are tight with the director of Burberry. All of the boys have had spreads and I think David at one time endorsed them. They are trying to get the younger demo so why not. It is business and their business. Eh.
I follow him on IG (along with Olive, David and Victoria) and its not horrible. Is he a professional, no, but it is not bad.
The Guardian specifically mentioned his some 3 million followers on Instagram as a valid reason to pick him since he has a big following. 3 million people following a 16 y.o. kid? I don’t get it.
If people un-followed him in protest it could make a difference.
Protest for what? Is he really hurting you that badly?
What , nepotism? It is hurting everyone, especially such blatant one. If people are OK with nepotism, sure, carry on, never mind me. But it does bother me a great deal indeed.
That first shot is the mews around the corner from my house. And I lived round the corner from the beckhams (before they moved to their current Holland Park mansion). So he’s not pushing the boat out with the locations!
I like the Beckhams, and he seems like a nice kid, but this is indeed nepotism.
He looks like Kiernan Shipka’s (sp) brother.
That said, yeah this is nepotism pure and simple.
He reminds me of Will Smith’s son. They even look similar even though they look nothing alike.
Brooklyn always looks like he is about to cry. He’s not ugy but averaga at best. Burberry, like Vogue, is inching closer to mediocrity.
I just don’t get it. With all that money, why don’t they go to university? Surely they can find a subject that interests them? They can afford to study all the way to a PHD in anything. And this is what they want to be, models and social media celebrities. It’s quite sad, really.
He’s 16.
Exactly. Why the hell is a child being splashed all over the tabloids, and “working” a very adult job, rather than going to high school? Is he even taking A Levels or did they let him drop out at 16?
People can go to college at 16, if they qualify.
He’s not going to be the photographer in a real sense.
He’s going to have lots of assistants and photography professionals who helps him out. He’s just a figurehead.
They paid for his tweets, basically. I’m ok with it. He’s a marketing ploy, this is viral advertising, and I’m sure he’s nothing more than an intern on set.
No big deal to me.
He does have one of the most famous couples in the world as parents, so I guess his first jobs hold much more prestige. Burberry sales will probably increase thanks to social media and kids. It’s not fair but it is fairly typical.
I’m kind of surprised that he didn’t photograph his own mother’s line, but did Burberry instead.
Interesting how his parents made a big deal of Brooklyn working in a coffee shop – for about 5 minutes. I honestly think they spent more time talking about it than he actually spent working there. Now, all that talk of ‘encouraging a work ethic’ is gone and we’re back to blatant nepotism.
I might add that nobody in the UK is the least bit surprised by any of this. I think I’ve said this before, but while the Beckhams seem to be quite liked in the US, this side of the Atlantic they are seen as being barely a step above the Kardashians. I do hope Burberry face a major backlash over this.
It was smart of the fashion house because now all his followers(yes, he has a LOT) will see these and open their eyes to the brand. They are getting into the next generation of fashion fans. I would love to see the picture BEFORE a profession photoshop and editor gets their hands on them. Let’s see what he came up with. I don’t see the big controversy? He’s using his last name just like any other person on the planet. Is it fair? No. Is life fair? Not even a little.
No, life is not fair, but I don’t think it’s wrong to mention the nepotism angle either when clearly that’s the case here, given his very young age. That to me just sounds like pointing out facts more than anything else. Given his youth, the nepotism angle might be far more noticeable in his case. If he were older, I don’t think people would be as likely to comment on it, even if he had gotten the job through the same kinds of connections.
I am a little baffled as to how his young fans who might be 12 would be able to afford Burberry. I guess times have changed a lot since I was a kid.
I completely agree with everything you said. People are too mad about this.
I don’t think people are nearly mad enough.
Of course it’s nepotism, he wouldn’t even have had a modeling career if it wasn’t for that. I don’t want to be mean, he’s a nice looking kid, but not really that much..? So yeah, privileges.
Yes sadly he is not model material…so ridiculous he is shooting the campaign as well…I wonder if the camera is on “auto” or if someone sets up the camera first and he walks in and takes over. (Eye roll)
I get that the fashion house is utilizing his followers – smart on their part. Kind of sad (in a way) that the kid will never know what it means to have to work for something…not that I would ever feel sorry for him
Calling it as it is…Nepotism.
They should have hired him to shoot “images” and “views” for their social media presence, not a real* AD campaign.
* I am in now way implying social media ad campaigns are of no importance.
YES-OTISM
Maybe someone else will actually do the campaign, but he’ll get the credit. Which would actually bother me more than the nepotism aspect.
I looked at his Instagram, and I don’t see anything special going on there. I was a little surprised at how non-special his photos looked. Even by amateur teenage standards, I guess I was expecting a little more.
Definitely nepotism. And shameless nepotism at that. Nothing special about this kid. But celeb kids are destined to be in the world of celebrity in one way or another. Deserving of it or not.
I get that he (celebrity kids in general) need to start somewhere. But this does bug me because its not like he has any sort of training. He’s just a teen who probably messes around with a camera….as a hobby.
But hey, the nepotism works because here we are talking about the campaign.
It’s a PR stunt, he wasn’t really taking the photos. They had a proper photography set up the shots and the equipment for him.
I doubt he even has any real interest in photography, if he did, there are a million ways he could use his family connections to get started on a real photography career.
I think it’s disgusting how the Beckhams relentlessly exploit their children.
Why can’t kids of celebrities do something outside the entertainment and arts field? They are always ” musicians”, “artists”, “models”, “actors”. Why can’t they be scientists, doctors, educators? At least work behind the camera like Duncan Jones or go the indie route like Charlotte Gainsbourgh.