Maude Apatow 'Little Shop of Horrors' Debut Still Going Following Nepo Baby Backlash

Maude Apatow is making her big off-Broadway debut in "Little Shop of Horrors" this coming February 2023.

The "Euphoria" actress is making a big transition from HBO Max to the Westside Theatre as she makes her stage debut at the well-loved classic musical.

"I have long admired the emotional intelligence and vulnerability Maude has displayed on television and in film. She's a natural fit for Audrey," producer Michael Mayer said in a statement as quoted by Billboard. "It delighted me to learn that, as a child, Little Shop was her gateway into her lifelong love of performing, and that this show gets to be her professional stage debut. We're thrilled to have her become a part of the Little Shop legacy."

Apatow is replacing Tony winner Lena Hall in the iconic role of Audrey on the off-Broadway revival.

Everyone in the production seemed to have been thrilled with the addition of Apatow in the cast, many praising her for he incredible voice.

"We are overjoyed to welcome another incredible performer to the show. With her beautiful voice and immense talent, we cannot wait to see Maude light up the stage alongside Matt Doyle's brilliant portrayal of Seymour," Robert Ahrens, one of the showrunners, also said in a statement.

The announcement came months after Apatow received backlash over the nepo-baby issue on social media. Last December 2022, Vulture released an explosive article that launched widespread attention on social media.

"TikTokers produced multipart series about nepo babies who resembled their famous parents, exposés on people you didn't know were nepo babies (everyone knew), and PSAs urging celebrity parents to roast their nepo babies 'to keep them humble'," the article wrote.

In the latter part of 2022, TikTokers and Twitter users have been outing children celebrities, and one of the first people who were targeted was Maude - who is the daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann and the sister of Iris Apatow.

"At first I was sad," she revealed to Porter Magazine. "Because it felt like people weren't judging you on your talent?" I ask. "Right. And that's fine. I try not to let it get to me because I obviously understand that I'm in such a lucky position. A lot of people [in a similar position] have proven themselves over the years, so I've got to keep going and make good work. It's so early in my career, I don't have much to show yet, but hopefully one day I'll be really proud of the stuff I've done by myself."

Aside from Apatow, other child celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Lily-Rose Depp, and even Tom Hanks expressed their thoughts against the issue.

Tags

Broadway, Broadway Musical, Off-Broadway