O'Shea Jackson Jr. Explains Why His Nepo Baby Status Is a "Badge of Honor"

O'Shea Jackson Jr. identifies as a "nepo baby" and is proud of it.

“I’m forever grateful for everything that my dad had to do to give me the opportunities that I have,” said Jackson, son of rapper and actor Ice Cube. During his appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday, as noted by People. “If I were to run away from that or shy away from in it in any way, in my eyes that’s disrespectful to everything he had to go through,” the Cocaine Bear actor continued. “He didn’t work as hard as he did for me to not accept and appreciate it.”

O’Shea went on to admit that he wears the “nepo baby” title as “a badge of honor.” The 32-year-old previously addressed the debate in December with a series of tweets in which he stated that he is fully aware of and grateful for the opportunities that come with being Ice Cube's kid.  “A lot of people, when they see me, naturally [they say], ‘Hey, you’re Ice Cube’s son.’ You’re damn right I am, 100 percent, that’s my hero. That’s my coach,” Jackson told Clarkson. “At the same time, the door can be open but you gotta walk through.” 

He recalled moments when people imagined he would act entitled or keep "a posse" around him, but that couldn't be further from the truth.  “The door can be open, but you gotta walk through it. I’m here to work,” Jackson said. “I pride myself on my professionalism.” 

O'Shea Jackson Jr. has amassed an impressive resume since his first credited big screen appearance in 2015's Straight Outta Compton, in which he played his father, ranging from indie films like Ingrid Goes West to blockbuster films like Godzilla: King of the Monsters, as well as renowned franchises, specifically the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.