Mel B’s daughter Phoenix Chi Gulzar has sparked debate with a new Channel 4 documentary examining how society treats different types of “nepo babies” – particularly Prince William and Brooklyn Beckham.
In “Born in the Limelight: Nepo Babies”, the 25-year-old investigates why the public appears more accepting of royal privilege compared to celebrity offspring.
Her investigation reveals a stark contrast in public perception, with social media analysis showing 51 per cent of references to Beckham’s career are negative, while Prince William faces significantly less criticism at 35 per cent.
“I wonder why society has accepted the ultimate nepo baby in the Royal Family but not in the world of celebrities?” Gulzar asks in the programme.
Prince William branded ‘ultimate nepo baby’ by Mel B’s daughter in defence of famous children
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The documentary explores how aristocratic privilege often escapes the same level of scrutiny faced by children of entertainment figures.
Brooklyn Beckham, 25, has pursued various career paths including modelling, photography and cooking, with his online cookery show notably requiring 62 people to film him making a sandwich.
He currently describes himself as an “entrepreneur” and has recently launched a £29 organic hot sauce business.
In contrast, Prince William’s career path has been more traditional, serving in the RAF before spending two years as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service.
Phoenix Chi Gulzar has released a new documentary about nepo babies
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The Prince of Wales later stepped down from his aviation role to focus on royal duties and charity work.
The documentary features Ollie Williams, a former Love Island contestant from an aristocratic background, who explains the difference in visibility between old and new money.
“You won’t always see the private jets and the helicopters and the Ferraris,” he says of the aristocracy. “You’re more likely to see tractors and old Land Rovers and labradors.”
In a revealing experiment, Gulzar tested the art world’s response to privilege by launching herself as an artist with “deliberately terrible paintings.”
Mel B being made an OBE by Prince William in 2022
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Her debut show attracted press attention and celebrity guests, with her works selling for over £2,000 each despite their intentionally poor quality.
To further demonstrate the impact of family connections, Gulzar and recent Slade School of Art graduate Betty Ogun conducted a test by sending nearly identical internship request letters to prominent art world figures.
The only difference was Gulzar’s mention of her famous mother, Mel B. The results were telling: Gulzar received several responses, while Ogun received none.
This experiment highlighted how family connections can open doors in creative industries, regardless of merit or qualification.
Mel B and Phoenix Chi at the British LGBT Awards 2018
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Gulzar acknowledges her own privileged position in the documentary, stating she “can’t deny that having Mel B as my mum has opened a few doors.”
Speaking to Radio Times, she described the discourse around celebrity children as having become “toxic,” “febrile” and “poisonous.”
“Even when nepo babies are great at their job – and many are – they face a backlash fuelled by misunderstanding, jealousy or resentment,” she explained.
The documentary struggled to find participants, with only Jack Keating, son of Boyzone’s Ronan, agreeing to take part out of 90 approached nepo babies.
“Nepotism is everywhere, no matter what area you work in,” Gulzar noted. “It’s just that the entertainment industry is very visible.”
Keating, now a radio presenter, admitted his father’s connections helped him enter the industry but maintained talent was necessary for career longevity.
