Kit Keenan Slams Claim Mom Cynthia Rowley Helped Buy Her NYC Apartment

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Kit Keenan is getting candid about her rosy upbringing. 

Following rumors online that Kit Keenan asked her mother, designer Cynthia Rowley, to help her buy her luxurious New York City penthouse, Kit is clarifying the situation.

Kit started a TikTok video on December 26th explaining how she bought her New York City apartment. She explained that she had a privileged upbringing and a very supportive family. While her mom didn’t directly pay for the apartment, she allowed Kit to live at home until she was 26, which allowed Kit to save a lot of money.

She also clarified that the person in question didn’t help her financially with the loan, down payment, or mortgage.

You know, despite everything, the founder of KIT did share that the designer – who has two children, Kit, 26, with William Keenan Jr. and Gigi Powers, 20, with her husband Bill Powers – actually gave her some valuable lessons in managing money. It’s always interesting to hear how people learn about finances, and it seems even in complicated situations, there can be positive takeaways!

She helped me get set up financially early on, introducing me to my accountant and financial advisors when I earned my first paycheck at 18. She really led by example, teaching me the importance of being financially independent as a woman and why investing in property is a smart move.

The influencer, who was on season 25 of The Bachelor, confessed to using her mother’s name to get more views on her posts, but she also believes being on the reality show helped her gain popularity.

Kit shared that her career and public recognition have opened many doors for her. She’s actively used her social media presence to her advantage, and it even led to an opportunity on a reality TV show when she was 21, exposing her to a much wider audience than she initially had.

Kit understands people are talking about her privileged background, but she’s thankful that creating content has allowed her to achieve financial stability.

Okay, seriously, when Kit said they did it all themselves, I almost screamed! It’s just… amazing. And honestly? They admitted it was a little bit about wanting to show off, which, fair enough! I mean, they deserve to be proud! But what really got me was hearing them say being a content creator is their dream job. It’s so inspiring! They said it’s given them opportunities they never even imagined, and honestly, that’s my dream too. I’m just so happy for them and so excited to see what they do next!

This isn’t the first time Cynthia’s daughter has talked about having advantages in life. Kit often shares how growing up with a privileged background has helped her gain popularity online.

I have friends whose mothers aren’t in the fashion industry, but I believe my upbringing has helped me succeed on social media,” she explained to TopMob News in an interview with Cynthia, 67, in May 2023. “I think people were curious about my mom being a fashion designer and about me growing up in New York City.”

Although Kit isn’t following exactly in her mother’s footsteps as a fashion designer, she admits her mother’s fame has created opportunities for her.

The socialite explained that even though she doesn’t directly work as a designer or at her mother’s company, she still considers herself a ‘nepo baby’ because she wonders if she’d have the same success as an influencer without her mother’s influence.

Despite having connections in the industry, her mother was certain her daughter would succeed on her own merits.

“I think you would,” Cynthia interjected. “That’s brave of you to say, though.”

For more stars who have shared their thoughts on nepotism, read on…

Honestly, when all this ‘Nepo Baby’ talk started, I really couldn’t get into it – it just seemed irritating and dull. I was sharing my thoughts on the February 7th, 2024 episode of Today, and that’s how I felt about it.

Dakota Johnson called the whole situation “lame” and said she immediately agreed to participate in a Saturday Night Live sketch that joked about it – a sketch she did while hosting the show the previous month.

Just a quick note that this discussion has been ongoing for some time. Emma quickly challenged the idea that her career success was primarily due to being Julia Roberts’ niece and Eric Roberts’ daughter.

The actress, who was twenty years old at the time, told PopEater in 2011 that many people assumed she benefited from having connections in the industry. She found the idea of ‘nepotism’ frustrating, explaining that it wasn’t true – she had auditioned for countless roles and often been rejected. She pointed out that while someone might be able to help you land one job, they can’t guarantee a whole career.

Goldie Hawn‘s daughter doesn’t bother to get the knives out when talk turns to nepotism.

Kate, who was raised alongside Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn’s partner of many years, explained to The Independent in December 2022 that she wasn’t bothered by how people labeled her family. “We’re a family of storytellers – it’s just part of who we are,” she said. “Whatever people call it won’t change that.”

The mother of Ryder and Bingham (from relationships with Chris Robinson and Matthew Bellamy) and Rani (with partner Danny Fujikawa) shared that she believes this kind of situation—people getting opportunities based on who their parents are—is actually more prevalent in other fields. She specifically mentioned modeling and business, noting she’s often been in business meetings and wondered how someone with so little experience got there.

Ultimately, she added, “If you work hard and you kill it, it doesn’t matter.”

Let’s be real, I definitely recognize how lucky I am. Being the daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber isn’t just about appearances – it’s having access to incredible guidance and advice. Honestly, that support system alone is something I feel incredibly grateful for. It’s a huge privilege, and I don’t take it for granted.

When it came to filmmaking, the actress from Bottoms explained that artists won’t compromise their creative vision to cater to anyone, especially not to protect children. She emphasized that true art requires staying true to that vision, and that’s what she cares about most.

She also pointed out that people generally don’t want to collaborate with those who are difficult or unkind. While acknowledging that connections and family ties play a role, she believes that if those connections were truly as powerful as some claim, we’d see them used even more often.

Carving out her own cinematic universe, Elizabeth is proof that, sometimes, it just takes one.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s younger sister realized what nepotism meant even when she was a child. She told Glamour UK in 2021 that, although she didn’t know the term itself, she felt uneasy about not earning her accomplishments. She was only 10 years old at the time, and it stemmed from her own insecurities.

Ben Stiller, whose parents were well-known performers Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, thinks having a connection only takes you so far in the entertainment industry.

After some criticism about casting decisions – specifically, Sean Penn’s son Hopper in a short film directed by Steven Spielberg’s daughter Destry and written by Stephen King’s son Owen – Ben Stiller tweeted his thoughts in 2021. He said that, from his own experience (and noting he doesn’t personally know these individuals), he believes they’ve likely overcome obstacles. He pointed out that having no connections in the entertainment industry presents a different set of challenges, and that ultimately, success in show business comes down to talent and hard work.

Acknowledging that Hollywood isn’t always fair, the star of Meet the Parents explained that people without talent usually don’t succeed long-term, even if they initially get opportunities through connections or family ties.

Ben shared his opinion quickly, but in February 2023, he still became part of a popular online discussion when Steve Martin jokingly labeled him a “nepo baby” in a preview for their Super Bowl commercials with Pepsi.

The former host of The Talk will always support his twin daughters, Charlie and Dolly, and his wife, Rebecca Romijn. He’s also preparing them for potential criticism they might encounter in the future.

My dad warned me about it – he told Us Weekly that people were going to label me a ‘nepo baby,’ and to just be prepared for it. He said it was inevitable, that the ‘nepo baby’ talk was on its way.

He added, “You have to work for this. There’s no shortcuts. It’s going to be even harder for you!”

But he is, of course, willing to help out his daughters.

He described being able to sit with his daughter at a diner while she prepares for a high school play audition, offering her guidance on how to deliver her lines. He feels this is the most valuable thing he can share with his children.

Dylan Penn understands why someone might be upset that she was cast in the 2021 film Flag Day, especially since her father, Sean Penn, directed her. However, she also pointed out that as an actress, she’s faced a lot of rejection and has been auditioning for roles for a long time.

Okay, so everyone’s losing it over her brother getting a role in this short film directed by Spielberg’s daughter, but honestly? She totally gets it. She was like, “Look, this is just how things are in Hollywood. It’s always about connections, who you know. It doesn’t matter if you’re related to someone famous like Sean Penn’s kid or not, that’s just the truth!” And honestly? She’s SO right. It’s not about talent, it’s about who you know, and I love that she just said it like it is! It’s so brutally honest, and I’m living for it!

Dennis Hopper, who first appeared in a movie directed by Sean Penn in The Last Face, shared with TopMob News back in February that the recent discussions about ‘nepo babies’ hadn’t bothered him much.

He said he’s okay with whatever people think of his work. ‘If you enjoy it, that’s awesome. If not, that’s fine too,’ he explained, after recently working on Devil’s Peak with his mother, Robin Wright. He doesn’t worry about accusations of nepotism, adding that he’ll always put in the same professional effort as anyone else, and won’t let working with family affect the quality of his work.

Hopper pointed out that working with his father was just as difficult—a ‘great nightmare’—as it was for any other actor who wasn’t his son.

He explained that on any film set, he’d be held to the same standards as everyone else. If he made a mistake on the first day, he’d be fired, and if he simply wasn’t good enough, that would be the end of it – admitting he’d definitely had moments where he wasn’t at his best.

In a February 2022 interview with Elle, the High Fidelity actor explained that people often assumed any job he got was due to his famous parents, Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz.

“It was definitely challenging,” Zoë said. “But I recognize I had a lot of advantages. Getting an agent quickly really opened doors for me, and I won’t pretend it didn’t. Still, I knew I had to remember that I’ve always worked hard at this – even as a kid, I used to perform for my grandparents. That wasn’t about my family connections; it was because I genuinely loved performing.”

Following the controversy, the actress explained to GQ some months later that it’s common for people to work in their family’s profession. She pointed out that this is actually the origin of surnames – people were identified by their family’s trade, like being known as the ‘Black family’ if they were blacksmiths.

In a November 2022 interview with Elle, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis’s daughter explained that people will likely have opinions about her and her background, but ultimately, she believes landing a role comes down to simply being the best fit for it.

That’s understandable, but the comment from the star of The Idol about this popular issue immediately sparked a huge wave of responses.

Lily-Rose explained that she’s become very mindful of how she talks about her upbringing. She feels her parents did everything they could to give her a regular childhood, but she acknowledges it wasn’t typical. She’s very aware that her experiences growing up were different from most people’s.

Following the conversation started by Lily-Rose, Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin’s daughter acknowledged that celebrity children will ultimately succeed or fail based on their own efforts. However, she pointed out that they often get a significant advantage at the beginning of their careers.

In a November 2022 TikTok, Ireland explained that she owes her success to her parents, and believes a common mistake people make is failing to acknowledge that support.

People often assume you either have a natural gift or you don’t. But things would be much easier to understand if everyone was just honest about their strengths and weaknesses, and why they possess them.

Gwyneth Paltrow, daughter of Blythe Danner and the late Bruce Paltrow, explained on Hailey Bieber’s YouTube series Who’s in My Bathroom? in July 2022 that having famous parents gives you advantages others don’t have, creating an uneven starting point. However, she believes that once you’ve benefited from that initial advantage, you need to work even harder to prove yourself and be exceptionally good at what you do.

Bruce directed Gwyneth in her first acting role, the 1989 TV movie High, and Steven Spielberg then cast her in his 1991 fantasy film Hook, as she was his 14-year-old goddaughter.

Gwyneth Paltrow recently discussed the increased scrutiny faced by children of celebrities. In an October 2023 interview with Bustle, she explained that there’s a growing trend of labeling these individuals as ‘nepo babies’ – a term she finds unpleasant – and judging them based on their parents’ fame. This was all happening even before the topic became a widespread public discussion.

Stellan Skarsgård, the actor known for his role in Dune, recently discussed the topic of ‘nepo babies’ – children of famous parents who benefit from that connection. He shared that his youngest son, Kolbjörn, was being criticized at school specifically because of his father’s fame.

He told Vulture that when classmates call him a “nepo baby,” it really upsets him. He doesn’t have many friends at school and often feels alone. He described the kids as being mean—or just unaware—and said they seem to enjoy being cruel online.

Stellan went on to say, “It’s ridiculous, really. If you don’t have the talent, no one will hire you for worthwhile work.”

Having a father who was a hugely famous celebrity, the actress and activist always knew her upbringing was different from most.

In 2018, Jane told Harvard Business Review that moving to the East Coast when she was ten years old made her aware that she was perceived differently. She explained that people reacted to her because of her father, the actor Henry Fonda – some were drawn to her because of who he was, while others didn’t like her for the same reason. It was a mixed experience, making her somewhat self-conscious.

The actress, a two-time Oscar winner, explained that having a famous father in the film industry definitely helped her career initially, as people were naturally more interested in her. However, she was determined to prove she earned her roles through talent, not just her family name. She did this by pushing herself incredibly hard – taking four acting classes a week instead of just one – to show everyone she was serious about her craft and avoid being seen as someone who wasn’t fully committed.

Being the child of someone working in a field you admire—and eventually joining yourself—is a wonderful opportunity,” said the Jurassic World star, who appeared as “Redheaded Audience Girl” in her father, Ron Howard’s, Parenthood. She told The Daily Beast in 2020 that while her father’s success was impressive, his greatest gift was always his support, encouragement, and genuine respect from the very beginning.

Bryce explained that people often struggle with self-doubt, or others might dismiss their accomplishments by attributing them to luck or outside factors. However, he added that these kinds of comments are usually insignificant.

Ethan Hawke jokingly admitted he’s a “nepo dad” – someone who uses family connections to help their child’s career. He told Variety in September that he happily took the opportunity to direct his daughter, Maya, in her film Wildcat, and he’s not ashamed of it.

Maya, who portrays Flannery O’Connor in the film, admitted to feeling unsure of her performance during filming. She explained that online reactions often lack depth, and shared how much her father has taught her. They enjoy working and spending time together, and hope to collaborate on future projects.

Maya, who was 25 at the time, acknowledged she would likely only have a limited number of opportunities due to her family connections. In a 2021 interview with People magazine, she explained, “I figure I’ll get a couple of chances because of my parents, but if I fail, I’ll be cut off.” She added, “That’s how it should be, so I’m just trying my best to succeed.”

Just before winning her first Academy Award for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of the famous actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, playfully poked fun at current trends.

Jamie Lee Curtis, accepting her SAG Award in February 2023, acknowledged her privileged background. ‘Both my parents and my husband, Christopher Guest, are actors,’ she said. ‘I know people might assume my success is because I’m a ‘nepo baby,’ and I understand that. But I’m 64 years old, and this recognition is truly wonderful.’

In a 2018 interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, Colin explained that when he was beginning his career, he underestimated how much his relationship to Tom Hanks would affect things. He’d hoped people would see him as an individual, separate from his father, but quickly learned that wasn’t the case.

The 46-year-old actor, who appeared as “Male Page” in his father’s first film, That Thing You Do! in 1996, recently shared on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast that he appreciates his father’s advice to pursue acting only if he was truly passionate about it.

Tom told him, “If you’re not truly passionate about this, find something different to do, because you’ll be unhappy if you stick with it.”

When asked about the recent attention on children of famous actors, Tom – who has four children, including Colin and Elizabeth (with his late ex-wife, Samantha Lewes), and Chet and Truman with his wife, Rita Wilson – explained that working in entertainment is just like any other family business.

Tom explained to Reuters in January 2023 that his family has always been immersed in creative pursuits. He noted that he and his wife raised four children, all of whom are creatively inclined and work in various storytelling fields.

The director, Marc Forster, made a good choice in casting Truman as a younger version of Tom in A Man Called Otto, he admitted. But ultimately, the Oscar winner told ET at the premiere, it came down to Truman being able to deliver a truthful performance on set. He emphasized that the decision was entirely up to Truman.

A scion of one of the most storied Hollywood dynasties, Drew couldn’t escape her famous last name.

Although being the granddaughter of famous actor John Barrymore brought a certain level of expectation, Drew Barrymore explained on her talk show in January 2023 that she felt she still needed to prove herself. She compared it to someone from a family of lawyers – even with a father who runs the firm, that person still has to pass the bar exam and earn their position. She just wants people to acknowledge her family history positively, without being critical, and recognize her own accomplishments.

Heidi Klum’s oldest child is doing well, thanks to her parents, Heidi and Seal. However, it’s ultimately up to the child to maintain that success.

Leni, 19, explained to People magazine in October 2022 that while she acknowledges her parents’ fame gave her a head start, she’s working hard to build her own path. She recognizes she had advantages others only dream of, but now she’s independent – traveling and going to school on her own. She and her mother share a common passion, which is a special bond for them.

Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann’s oldest daughter was upset by being labeled a “nepo baby,” but she’s working on not letting it bother her.

I need to keep working hard and creating quality work, because many others have succeeded before me,” the Euphoria star explained to Net-a-Porter in September 2022. “It’s still early in my career, and I haven’t built up a large body of work yet, but I hope to eventually look back and be proud of everything I’ve accomplished on my own.”

In December 2022, actress Lena Allen tweeted that people should be more concerned about individuals benefiting from family connections in professions like law, banking, and politics, arguing that these are the areas where privilege truly impacts people’s opportunities. She added, with a touch of sarcasm, that it wasn’t her place to say more.

After facing criticism about being a “nepo baby” – someone benefiting from famous parents, actor Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen – on TikTok, Lily Allen agreed it was a fair point to discuss.

She posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the industry clearly lacks diversity when it comes to class and race, and that this hurts everyone. While acknowledging criticism of ‘nepo babies,’ she believes the issue is bigger, pointing to broader problems with wealth inequality and a lack of support programs and funding.

Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain and Cindy McCain, believes it’s perfectly okay to be proud of successful parents – as long as you acknowledge and take responsibility for your own accomplishments.

In December 2022, she posted on Instagram urging fellow ‘nepo babies’ to simply recognize the advantages their famous parents have given them and then focus on their own abilities. She argued that while talent and hard work matter, pretending that having well-known parents is a significant hardship comes across as insensitive and arrogant.

Does Hailey Baldwin, daughter of Stephen Baldwin and niece to Alec, Billy, and Daniel Baldwin, need to explain her privileged background any further after wearing a “Nepo Baby” t-shirt in January 2023?

Though she did.

Hailey explained that her recent message was a direct response to widespread conversation, and she wanted to be very clear about her position. Speaking on The Circuit With Emily Chang in June, the founder of Rhode Skin acknowledged and accepted the label of ‘nepo baby,’ stating, ‘I embrace that I am.’

Oh my gosh, you guys, it was SO cute! In February 2023, little Tallulah, Bruce and Demi’s youngest, basically gave her big sisters, Rumer and Scout, the sweetest nod to what it’s like growing up with famous parents. She did it through her fashion choices, it was a whole thing! I was obsessed with the tribute, honestly. It was just so sweet and thoughtful!

According to actress Meg Ryan, her son, Jack Quaid, is a remarkably gifted performer. In an interview with Glamour, she shared that Jack has a more innate talent than she does, even after all her years in the industry. Jack is the son of Meg Ryan and her former husband, Dennis Quaid.

Meg pointed out that labeling someone a ‘nepo baby’ ignores their hard work, talent, and awareness of any advantages they may have.

Jack is certainly aware of the assumptions that are made about the children of actors.

In a 2022 interview with Thrillist, the star of The Boys anticipated people would assume they understood how he landed the role. He acknowledged this would likely continue, and he was okay with that, as long as he himself knew the reasons behind his success.

Now 31, Jack decided long ago there was no point trying to hide his parentage.

He explained on the podcast Allegedly with Matthew Cole Weiss in 2016 that he wasn’t trying to avoid the acting world – he actually loved his parents’ work. He also pointed out he couldn’t begin auditioning until he turned 18, and added that he’d be thrilled to have this job even if his parents weren’t actors.

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2025-12-28 21:54