History Main / Nepotism

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': Implied to be why the head of the bank insists they should give more loans to Vector, who is his son.

* In both the film and novel of ''Film/TheGreenMile'', we have Percy Wetmore, an immature, sadistic {{jerkass}} who physically and verbally abuses the inmates and mouths of to his superiors. It's established that Percy's uncle is the state governor, and that's pretty much the only reason why he is in the position he's in and any time the other guards try to punish Percy for his behavior, Percy goes "squealing like a schoolroom sissy" to his relatives. Even though Percy was offered a better paying job at a nearby mental institution, he sticks around at the prison because he likes seeing prisoners die. At least until Eduard Delacroix's death.

* In ''Fanfic/AllAmericanGirl'', Celestia, while trying to help her niece DJ reconnect with her biological family and her Equestrian heritage, recruits her husband to a high-profile military posting and offers her brother the previously vacant position of Princess' Hoof (ie, [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire King's]] [[Series/GameOfThrones Hand]]). When pressed, she admits to playing nepotism, though not entirely for DJ's sake -- she's also trying to combat government infiltration by a group of pony supremacists called the Purehooves.

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' the first chapter is from the viewpoint of a character who's been played under the command of a teenager of noble blood, who's leading his own ranging despite never having been beyond the Wall before. The Night's Watch seems to be vulnerable to this beyond the cultural belief that nobles are more suitable, because it relies on the aid of others to sustain itself, and a lord is more likely to be helpful if his son is a prominent ranger than a random builder (though this can be justified because the noble has appropriate training from a young age). It's noted that the five youngest Lord Commanders of the Watch have all been close relatives of the Lord of Winterfell, and one of them was ''[[AChildShallLeadThem ten years old]]''

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12404080/6/Anyone-Can-Become-A-Hero Anyone Can Become A Hero]]'' when Gyro finds out [[Manga/SteelBallRun Johnny]] didn't vote for him for Class President.

* In ''Fanfic/AllAmericanGirl'', Celestia, while trying to help her niece DJ reconnect with her biological family and her Equestrian heritage, recruits her husband to a high-profile military posting and offers her brother the previously vacant position of Princess' Hoof (ie, [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire King's]] [[Series/GameOfThrones Hand]]). When pressed, she admits to playing nepotism, though not entirely for DJ's sake - she's also trying to combat government infiltration by a group of pony supremacists called the Purehooves.

* In ''FanFic/{{Entropy}}'', the first and second fics have Supreme Commander Asmos Rose, Amy's mother, actually in charge of GUN. Amy joins at Rouge's recommendation and [[spoiler: though she took a callsign (Mjollnir) to separate her civilian and GUN selves]], she became a part of a team [[spoiler: (the Femme Fatalex.)]] It's not discussed on how she got the position, but it's plausible that her mother had a hand even if they note that there was notable friction between Amy and her mother.

* [[PlayedForLaughs Jokingly referred to]] in * This shows up many times in ''FanFic/FirstTrySeries'':

* In ''Fanfic/GleeReprise'', one of the things Rachel is trying to avoid with The Reprisals when it comes to Beth - with mixed results.

* Defied in the ''FanFic/InquisitorCarrowChronicles''. Fudge is scandalized that due to Carrow's new anti-corruption measures, the son of a pureblood Ministry worker was denied a job after it was proven he wasn't remotely qualified for the job, made a scene and got bodily tossed out of the Ministry. He tries to assure the father his son will get the job, only to be informed the man isn't remotely concerned, since as far as he's concerned his son has proven his worthlessness.

* {{Subverted}} in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13545968/1/Wilhuff-Tarkin-Hero-of-the-Rebellion Wilhuff Tarkin, Hero of the Rebellion]]'' with admiral Motti: while he may be a relative of Grand Moff Tarkin,[[note]]Specifically he's his wife's cousin[[/note]] one of the highest leaders of the Empire, he earned his rank and post at a relative young age through success in battle against the Separatists Holdouts and a Tof incursion, and the only help he ever got from Tarkin was command of a gunship before a battle during the Clone Wars where they were short on officers and ''someone else vouched for him''
* ''FanFic/WitnessGoodNeighbors'': Several of Shouto's coworkers mistakenly believe that Endeavor ''coddles'' his son, giving him cushy assignments and treating him well because he's his successor. Those more aware of [[AbusiveParents what's really going on]] use this misperception to their advantage while turning a blind eye.
* Subverted in ''Fanfic/SonOfTheSannin''. Yugao couldn't show any favoritism towards her foster son Haku while acting as the proctor in the Chunin Exam finals for the sake of being impartial and didn't even wish him good luck before his match started despite how much she wanted to. At most, she gives a small smile when he shows off some swordfighting skills that she had a hand in teaching him.
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12748842/1/It-s-the-End-of-the-World-as-We-Know-It-And-I-Feel-Fine It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)]]'', a Literature/HarryPotter / Cthulhu Mythos story, has Lily Potter as a preferred form of Nyarlathotep, having been freed by Harry from her prison in the Dursleys' attic. As a bit of trolling, she makes her son her [[MouthOfSauron Herald]]. After making a deal with Daphne Greengrass, then revealing who he is, she asks how he became Nyarlathotep's herald.
---> '''Harry''': I ended up the Crawling Chaos's emissary much the same way as anyone gets anywhere in Magical England. Nepotism.
---> '''Lily''': Oh, that's a good one, dear! Doubly so because it's true.

** Most of the truly incompetent Manticoran officers are kept on the rolls because of powerful relatives in the aristocracy, although the 20 years of war with Haven tends to [[TooDumbToLive thin their ranks significantly]]. There are also some people who reach high rank faster than normal or end up with plum assignments because of their family connections, who end up proving that they have the skill to go along with the rank nonetheless (Michael Oversteegen is the most obvious example, getting a heavy cruiser - a senior-grade captain's slot - while still a captain jay-gee and then using it to [[RememberWhenYouBlewUpASun blow four enemy heavy cruisers out of space in a single engagement]]).

* In ''Series/OtherSpace'' the crew of the UMP Cruiser has some issues with this: the crew members Stewart picks are his childhood best friend and the girl he has a crush on, while their science officer is the son of a UMP executive and bluntly states that he's there because of nepotism and does not want to be there. Even the ship's computer was designed to deal cards and is partially there to add the names of their sponsors to their first contact message. Stewart's sister Karen may have also been placed there because of their relationship - specifically that they were hoping she wouldn't attempt a coup against the captain if it was her brother (she does). That's five out of seven crew members, not counting the stowaway.

* The player character of ''VideoGame/GoodJob'' is the child of the featured company's CEO, and as such is mostly graded on how quickly they get tasks done - regardless of how much damage they cause to the company in the process.

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Justin was hired at the comic book shop by his uncle out of pity. Subverted, as Justin [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1448 went out of his way to prove he deserved the position.]] This is brought up when Justin's friend Grace is applying for a job there. The owner points out she's guaranteed the job if she wants it, states he's not going to interview her, and asks if - as a friend Justin recommended for the job - she wants it. (She takes the point and the job.)

* In both the film and novel of ''Film/TheGreenMile'', we have Percy Wetmore, an immature, sadistic {{jerkass}} who physically and mentally abuses the inmates and mouths of to his superiors. It's established that Percy's uncle is the state governor, and that's pretty much the only reason why he is in the position he's in and any time the other guards try to punish Percy for his behavior, Percy goes "squealing like a schoolroom sissy" to his relatives. Even though Percy was offered a better paying job at a nearby mental institution, he sticks around at the prison because he likes seeing prisoners die. At least until Eduard Delacroix's death.

* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' manga states that [[ButtMonkey Touta]] [[CowardlyLion Matsuda]] has relatives in the Police Force, hence why he has a job there despite being more or less well-intentioned, yet incompetent. [[spoiler:Until he goes all CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass, that is.]]

* Used in the Season 7 premiere of ''Series/{{The Office|US}}'' which is actually named "Nepotism", in which Michael hires his nephew as the new office assistant due to having been estranged from him. However, he is an apathetic and horrible assistant who messes up everything, which eventually leads to [[spoiler: Michael spanking him, at which point he runs off and quits.]]

* ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' has two examples, both of which are played atypically.

** In the fourth NonSerialMovie, ''Captured in her Eyes'', one of the suspects was involved in a crime some years back, but wasn't pursued by the police because he was the son of the police superintendent. [[spoiler:It's subverted when it turns out that his father never had any hand in protecting him, and in fact was stunned to find out that his son was never investigated in spite of how heavily he was involved. Furthermore, the movie ends with the superintendent making it clear that his son will be prosecuted for the role he did play in the crime (blackmailing the victim).]]

* ''Anime/CodeGeass'' -- While several members of the Britannian Imperial Family may be very qualified and competent as soldiers and politicians, there are plenty of others who were less so. But like everything else in this complex story, it cuts both ways -- Clovis, for example, had no interest in ruling or warfare. He just wanted to be a painter, but in this family, that wasn't an option.
** In season 2, [[spoiler: the newly restored Princess Nunally]] was appointed as Viceroy by the emperor, but not because he wanted her to be safe or empowered in any way - it was because [[IHaveYourWife Lelouch wouldn't dare launch an attack against her]].

* In ''LightNovel/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'', Cuuko first shows up working with kidnappers, and then immediately after that case is resolved she gets into the Planetary Defense Organization because her uncle works in HR. Nyarko is pissed [[PsychoLesbian for]] [[StalkerWithACrush several]] [[NoGuyWantsToBeChased reasons]], but chief among them is that ''she'' had to do it the hard way, including taking an annoyingly difficult entrance exam.

** As far as the OVAs are concerned, it was revealed in supplementary materials (and implied in the show itself) that Mihoshi was, at one time, actually competent but as a result of a NoodleIncident that nearly killed her, she became the person she is today.

* In ''LightNovel/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'', Relie runs the same academy that her younger sister Philuffy studies at. When Lux, who Philuffy is interested in, becomes a student, Relie [[ShipperOnDeck does everything she can to make them get together]], including making them sleep in the same room. More seriously, she prevents Philuffy from going out on combat missions [[spoiler:because of the risk of Philuffy's HalfHumanHybrid status being discovered]].

* ''Series/TheWheelOfTime'': Liandrin accused Siuan of favoring Moiraine as she'd been with the Blue Ajah alongside her before being raised to Amyrlin. [[spoiler:This is doubtless why they keep the fact they're lovers a secret, since it would only make this worse.]]

[[folder:ProfessionalWrestling]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Played with in regards to Wrestling/DominikMysterio. Dominik's been appearing on WWE TV sporadically since he was a child, but didn't start training to become an actual wrestler until 2018. However, because of Rey's influence, he was allowed to bypass Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} entirely and was immediately given a spot on the main roster once he was competent enough to be watchable in the ring, something that's usually reserved for more experienced wrestlers who were already world-famous, such as Wrestling/{{Sting}} or Wrestling/AJStyles. The only reason this didn't get more complaints is because Dominik was rarely booked strongly, mainly acting as an accessory to his father's storylines. All of this later served as fodder for his FaceHeelTurn, whereupon it became openly acknowledged that for all his talent, the only reason Dominik had a spot in WWE right now instead of working his way up like everyone else was because of Rey's influence, which became a component of his heel character.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'': Citrinne, a relative of Brodia's royal family, sometimes fears that she's not up to to her job as her cousin Prince Alcryst's retainer, since she got her position through family connections. As such, her supports with Chloe show that she pushes herself hard in her training in order to be strong enough to protect Alcryst. She also bonds with her fellow retainer Lapis over how each feels as though something is holding them back- for Lapis, it's her humbler origins, while for Citrinne, it's her lack of strngth.

** The second and more serious example is, surprisingly enough, ''[[NobleDemon Luck Gandor]]''. While he certainly doesn't ''seem'' like someone who got his position from connections alone, careful examination of the evidence (and eventual confirmation in ''The Slash'') would reveal that he's been in the higher ranks of TheMafia [[ImprobableAge since age fifteen or younger]], and only because his brothers were in charge. [[JustAKid He has quite a bit]] [[TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask of a complex over it]], and goes to considerable lengths to leave no possible doubt that he's capable.

** In a meta example, head writer Anthony Burch is [[SelfDeprecation not above joking]] that nepotism played a role in his sister Ashly getting the role of Tiny Tina as well as a DLC focused around said character.

** Wrestling/KevinNash stated in [[https://youtu.be/2uGI9X1AGqQ?t=204 a promo on ''WCW Monday Nitro'']] that this was part of the reason he and Wrestling/ScottHall (then known as Vinnie Vegas and The Diamond Studd, respectively) left WCW to go up north and become Diesel and Razor Ramon.

** Wrestling/KevinNash stated in [[https://youtu.be/2uGI9X1AGqQ?t=204 a promo on ''WCW Monday Nitro'']] that this was the reason he and Wrestling/ScottHall (then known as Vinnie Vegas and The Diamond Studd, respectively) left WCW to go up north and become Diesel and Razor Ramon.

* ''Anime/CodeGeass''. While several members of the Britannian Imperial Family may be very qualified and competent, there are plenty of others who were less so. Clovis and Odysseus come to mind, who each have "son of the emperor" as their best qualities.
** They do have some talent: Clovis was able to run a decent conspiracy, and Odysseus has the remarkable talent among the royals as 'generally sane'.
** Nunally was appointed Governor of Tokyo by her father, but NOT because he wanted her to be safe or empowered in any way - it was so [[IHaveYourWife her face on the news every month, just out of reach, would tick Lelouch off]].

* In ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'', one article shows what would happen if people practiced BrutalHonesty toward each other. In one example, a company executive apologizes to a female employee for not promoting her, saying that he's giving it to the son of a dear friend of his. The woman pleasantly tells the man that she doesn't mind, since she intends to embezzle from the company.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'': Citrinne, a relative of Brodia's royal family, sometimes fears that she's not up to to her job as Prince Alcryst's retainer, since she got her position through family connections. As such, her supports with Chloe show that she pushes herself hard in her training in order to be strong enough to protect Alcryst.