Ben Platt apparently doesn’t like being called a fake baby -TGN

Ben Platt wasn’t too happy about being asked to comment on the fake baby discourse. (Getty)

Broadway star Ben Platt’s publicist reportedly cut off an interview after the actor was asked to comment on the “fake baby” discourse.

The singer, songwriter and actor was none too happy to be asked his opinion on the infamous 2022 New York Magazine cover story on which the heads of him and several other actors were placed on the bodies of babies with the headline: ‘She has her mother’s eyes. And broker.”

Platt, best known for his role in the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansenhas become part of the months-long discourse about the “fake baby boom”.

For the uninitiated, ‘fake baby‘ is an abbreviation of ‘nepotism baby’, which usually refers to children of celebrities whose own fame has contributed to some extent to their success in a related career.

The actor has been accused of being a fake baby thanks to his starring role in the 2021 film adaptation Dear Evan Hansen, which was produced by his father Marc Platt – best known for producing films, including the much-loved hit Legally blonde.

In addition, the film adaptation was criticized for Platt’s involvement, with some saying the then 27-year-old was too old for the role of a high school student.

Other major Hollywood stars at the center of the fake baby discourse are the face of Chanel No. 5 and The idol star Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of actor Johnny Depp and model Vanessa Paradis, American horror story‘s Emma Roberts, niece of A-lister Julia Roberts, Mad Max: Fury RoadZoë Kravitz, daughter of singer-songwriter and actor Lenny Kravitz and actor Lisa Bonet, and Nicholas Cage, cousin of director Francis Ford Coppola and a cousin of directors Roman Coppola and Sofia Coppola.

More notable names in the biz of acting, modeling and music with fake baby status include Dan Levy, Willow and Jaden Smith, Maude Apatow, Gwyneth Paltrow (and Apple Martin), Lourdes Leon, Robert Downey Jr and Timothée Chalamet.

Platt was asked how he feels about being a fake baby in an exclusive interview with Rolling stone on Friday (July 14), to which he replied by saying he would “skip the question right away.”

“If we can, we’ll skip that right away,” Platt told the interviewer, to which they replied, “No comment?”

Platt’s publicist then reportedly stepped in and asked the reporter to focus on his new comedy film theater camp, that Platt was promoting.

A few questions later, the publicist intervened again, cutting the 45-minute interview in half and giving the reporter one more question, which they dedicated to a question about his recent engagement.

Platt’s refusal to engage in favoritism questions caught the attention of users on Twitter, with some describing his response as significant and revealing.

Forget the fake baby accusations, wrote one social media usersaid, “he can’t beat the diva’s allegations.”

“Just the way I imagined Ben Platt answering this,” wrote another.

Regardless of Platt’s response to a magazine cover question, fans are still eager to watch Theater Camp once it hits theaters in August.

When discussing the movie with IndieWirePlatt said the film had become a passion project.

“If you’re in a position to do something that really fills you up and is joyful, fulfilling and meaningful, that should be a priority,” he shared.

“I don’t think there’s anyone going to look at this somewhat niche topic on paper, this little alt-comedy movie — especially now in the filmmaking landscape — and in our individual orbits of our careers that tell us to prioritize that.

“We feel so wonderfully lucky and grateful and justified that it has blossomed the way we’ve always dreamed it could.”