Sylvester Stallone has defended the casting of his daughter Scarlet Rose Stallone in Tulsa King, openly acknowledging criticism that her role represents nepotism.
The 80-year-old actor plays the lead in the Paramount+ series, which returned for its fourth season on 16 October. Scarlet, 24, joined the show in its first season as stable hand Spencer and has a larger role in the latest episodes.
Sylvester Stallone defends Scarlet Rose Stallone’s Tulsa King role
Speaking to USA Today, Stallone rejected the idea that parents should avoid using their influence to help their children.
“Nepotism is terrible,” he said, before responding: “Oh please, you’re not a good parent if you haven’t performed a little nepotism.”
He added: “Then obviously you don’t care about your kids, because they come first. Of course it’s nepotism, you idiot. That’s why we’re parents. We want the best for our children. So obviously we let them have every advantage.”
Stallone said he nevertheless expects his children to prove they can succeed once given an opportunity.
“Can they maintain that level of excellence? That’s out of our hands,” he said. “But if you can open the door, we’ll see if they have the ability to go through it.”
Addressing criticism that Scarlet’s role may have been too easy to secure, Stallone said: “You’re right. Perhaps it could be. But to maintain that, to be in front of millions of people, you either got it or you don’t.”
Stallone has five children in total – three daughters and two sons. Scarlet is his youngest child, whom he shares with his wife, Jennifer Flavin.
