North West, the 10-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, recently made headlines with her acting debut at The Lion King’s 30th anniversary concert in Los Angeles. Performing the role of Young Simba, North’s appearance has ignited a fierce online debate, with critics and fans divided over whether her casting was a result of her talent or her famous family connections.

The concert, held at the Hollywood Bowl, saw North West take to the stage to perform "I Just Can't Wait To Be King." While she received a standing ovation from the live audience, the online reaction was far more mixed. Many praised North's courage and performance, while others swiftly labeled her a "nepo baby," suggesting that her family’s influence played a significant role in her landing the part.

Sources close to the production have now confirmed that North's high-profile family indeed played a pivotal role in her casting. Insiders revealed that North did not have to compete against other young actors, whom had to audition 4 to 5 times for the part.

The Kardashian family's close relationship with Gabe Turner, a partner at Fulwell 73 and creative showrunner for The Lion King concert, reportedly facilitated North's casting due to these connections. It is also alleged that Kardashian paid the production company $1 million to have North perform as the lead.

"The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl and The Kardashians are both produced by the same company," one source explained. "Gabe Turner is deeply involved in both projects, making North's casting almost inevitable if she could carry a note."

This revelation has fueled the ongoing debate about nepotism in Hollywood, with critics arguing that North's role is a clear example of how celebrity connections can overshadow talent. Many have questioned whether other young actors, who might have had more experience or training, were overlooked simply because they lacked the Kardashian-West pedigree.

However, supporters of North West argue that leveraging family connections is a common practice in many industries, not just entertainment. They contend that North, despite her privileged background, still had to perform and win over the audience, which she seemingly did.

The insider also disclosed that the Kardashian family plans to feature North's performance in an upcoming episode of their reality show, "The Kardashians," further intertwining their reality TV empire with their children's burgeoning careers. The performance, including North’s outfit—an oversized yellow hoodie, slippers, and robe designed by ERL—was curated by her team, highlighting the level of control and influence the family wields over such public appearances.

While some view North's casting as a strategic move to generate publicity for the event, others see it as an inevitable outcome of her family's prominence in the entertainment industry. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: North West's debut has successfully put the spotlight back on the discussion of nepotism and its impact on the arts.

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Yvon Lux is the editor of her Apple News channel covering lifestyle news and current events. Her “blogazine” celebrates sisterhood and empowers women by focusing on women’s health, travel, lifestyle, and entrepreneurial news while also sharing the most coveted beauty news and style stories.

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