Revealed: A-listers who hid their privileged backgrounds – as Blake Lively is the latest star whose ‘working class’ upbringing doesn’t quite ring true

As I delve deeper into the lives of these renowned artists, it seems that truth and fiction have often blurred lines in their narratives. From Kid Rock’s privileged upbringing to Ross’ correctional facility job, many have crafted personas that may not align with their real-life experiences.

Some celebrities strive to give off an air of being everyday people, despite leading lives filled with red carpet events, private jet travel, extravagant parties, and constantly changing wardrobes. In reality, many of them come from humble backgrounds.

This week, it was revealed that Blake Lively has faced accusations of falsifying her background to give an impression of being working class, joining the growing list of celebrities accused of “whitewashing” their origins.

The actor, Ryan Reynolds, emphasized that they aim for their kids to have a “regular lifestyle” as much as possible. He mentioned that both he and his wife come from modest, working-class backgrounds.

Nevertheless, fans swiftly criticized the statement, labeling it as ‘uninformed’, and raised doubts about Blake’s understanding of the term, given their reference to Blake’s well-established showbiz parents and suburban childhood in LA.

Besides Ryan and Blake, other famous personalities have also adopted a modest narrative about their origins. Some have even exaggerated stories of past struggles, such as crimes and hardships, to give an edgier image.

Music icons Vanilla Ice and Bob Dylan allegedly exaggerated stories about growing up financially struggling to enhance their authenticity, whereas rap artist Biggie Smalls faced accusations from his own mother that he misrepresented his early life as one of hardship when in reality, he had attended a private school.

Blake Lively:  Grew up in showbiz family

It’s noteworthy that Blake Lively, who gained fame on the show “Gossip Girl,” comes from an acting family and has been labeled a ‘nepotism baby’ by some critics. Thus, it was somewhat surprising when Ryan described her as ‘middle-class.’

In conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, the Deadpool actor shared: ‘Growing up, we were both from working-class families. I recall thinking, as children, “If only I had my current talent back then” and “I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to enjoy takeout like this when I was young,” or similar thoughts.’

Nevertheless, the statement was swiftly criticized as uninformed, with fans pointing out Lively’s long-standing Hollywood lineage and her childhood spent in the suburbs of Los Angeles’ Tarzana district.

As a child, Blake began her acting career at the tender age of 10, appearing in the 1998 movie “Sandman,” which her late father, actor-director Ernie Lively, had helmed.

Elaine Lively, her mother, is both an actress and a talent manager, and all of her siblings are employed within the entertainment field.

Following The Cut sharing Ryan’s statement from the THR interview on Instagram, his remarks about being a member of the working class were promptly challenged by fans.

One wrote: ‘Quick search: She grew up in Tarzana and then went to Burbank High. Her whole family was in the entertainment business. She was cast in Sisterhood for the Traveling Pants while she was a teen. 

It’s quite comfortable, even middle-class standards. However, it doesn’t make a difference since she has become wealthy and unbearably arrogant. Farewell.

‘You keep using that word, ‘working class.’ I do not think it means what you think it means.’ 

Victoria Beckham: Taken to school in a Rolls Royce 

Last year, Victoria Beckham’s fans were thrilled beyond measure when a clip of her in a Rolls Royce from her BECKHAM Netflix documentary became widely popular online.

In an open documentary, Victoria Beckham, aged 50, tried to assert that she came from a working-class upbringing. However, her spouse, David, corrected this claim by reminding everyone that her father would often chauffeur her to school in a Rolls-Royce.

As I share my journey, let me express that both of us hail from families who are diligent workers, firmly rooted in the working-class community.

From a different room, David popped out to check and said, “Speak truthfully!” But Victoria, visibly upset, responded, “I am indeed speaking honestly!

David then asked her: ‘What car did your dad drive you to school in?’

Then, she began to respond by stating: ‘Well, let me tell you that my father…’, but he interjected, saying: ‘Just a single response is required!’

Posh then retorted that it ‘wasn’t a simple answer’ before he asked her again what car it was.

Later on, she mentioned, “It might vary, but in the 80s, my father did own a Rolls-Royce.” After this, David responded with a simple “Thank you” before departing.

spectators swiftly responded to the instance, with someone commenting: “Victoria Beckham is a master of subtle wit!

Another said: ‘Love him humbling her. Like her name was posh spice.’

After making a mistake in her fashion design class, the designer later launched her personal brand by introducing a T-shirt priced at £110 with the phrase “My Dad Had A Rolls Royce” on it. This item could be purchased directly from her website.

Ed Sheeran: Slept rough despite wealthy family 

Ed Sheeran often talks about his time when he didn’t have a permanent home, sharing that he relied on ‘couch-surfing’ and even spent nights sleeping on the streets, including outside of Buckingham Palace at one stage.

Prior to achieving success, the singer-songwriter lived homeless for two years while striving to establish himself within the music industry.

One evening found him huddled outside the grandeur of the palace, which ultimately sparked the creation of his song ‘Homeless’, as he shared: ‘I discovered a covered archway outside Buckingham Palace with a warm vent, and I stayed there for a brief spell.’

The star was 16 when he moved from Suffolk to London in 2007 to study at music college. 

Upon completion of the course, I found myself without a grant to cover my rental expenses, leaving me to hustle by playing gigs and peddling CDs from my backpack.

For the subsequent two and a half years, he either dozed off on London’s subway trains or temporarily stayed at friends’ places.

For a significant part of the years 2008, 2009, and 2010, I found myself without a permanent residence. Yet, I managed to find a way to survive during that period.

‘During late nights, I had a place to find a bed and contacts for a spare room to crash at any hour. It was beneficial to be outgoing, and having social connections certainly came in handy. Alcohol also played a role.’

‘That’s the place where I composed the song titled ‘Homeless’. In it, I penned the lines: “This isn’t a homeless evening for me, but rather, I’m less at home than I’d prefer.”‘

After moving to Framlingham, Suffolk at the age of four, Ed, who hailed from Yorkshire, experienced a life of privilege.

After that, the singer studied at Brandeston Hall Preparatory School, an independent institution, followed by Thomas Mill High School.

However speaking in 2014 he admitted: ‘I wasn’t really homeless. Not proper cardboard box stuff. 

Well, indeed, during the evenings I’d perform, and if I lacked a place to rest, I’d spend my days dozing off on public transportation like the Circle Line. The next night, I’d perform once more, and the cycle would repeat.

Lana Del Rey: Cultivated ‘white trash’ image 

Lana Del Rey has been criticized for portraying domestic abuse in a glamorous light and for creating an image associated with lower-class whites, even though her father is a millionaire.

Originating from Scotland, Lana spent her early years in the bustling city of Manhattan. However, she later moved to a quaint town nestled in upstate New York, not far from picturesque Lake Placid.

It’s widely known that she grew up with considerable wealth, given that her father, Robert England Grant Jr., is a prosperous entrepreneur, reportedly possessing assets valued over a million dollars.

Although Lana Del Rey claims that her father accumulated his fortune later in life, it should be noted that she was educated at a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut, which cost around $65,000 per year.

In a deleted Instagram video from 2023, the singer-songwriter denied allegations suggesting she came from affluence, stating that Lake Placid, New York wasn’t a wealthy town.

She additionally shared that it was because of financial assistance, as her uncle held a position within the administrative offices of the school, that she was able to attend a private boarding institution.

The individual asserted that she was targeted at school because of her lack of wealth, and as a result, was bestowed the derogatory nickname “Lake Placid’s White Trash.

She told fans: ‘We had absolutely no money… that’s a little story the news loved to assign to me.

I was raised in a small mountain community, living modestly within a humble abode. Our circumstances were similar to many others residing in the 900-person town, and there’s no denying that fact. Unlike some notable individuals who hail from privileged backgrounds, I don’t fall into that category.

For more than ten years, Lana has enjoyed a prosperous career. However, it wasn’t until she was 26 that she started earning substantial wealth, following the commencement of her music career. Prior to that milestone, she resided in a trailer park or with her boyfriend’s accommodation.

In 2012, when she appeared on Saturday Night Live, she was residing at a hostel situated on 17th Street in New York City.

Bob Dylan: Fabricated a poor background  

Legendary musician Bob Dylan has been found to have told numerous untruths concerning his early life, such as claims that he didn’t recognize his parents or was actually brought up in New Mexico.

Born and raised in the northern mining town of Hibbing, the musician spent his childhood with his father, Abraham – a man whose ancestors were Jewish immigrants escaping a pogrom in Odessa, Ukraine – and mother Betty, who herself was from a family of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants settled in Minnesota.

Growing up, Bob along with his sibling David resided in a tightly bonded Jewish neighborhood located in the north, surrounded by family and acquaintances. However, Bob had a strained relationship with his father and often felt uneasy.

Upon reaching the age of 20 and settling in New York, his life story expanded dramatically, filled with extraordinary narratives.

He claimed he was an orphan from New Mexico, part Sioux Indian and part Irish-English-Welsh-Okie.

He emphasized his background by stating that he used to escape from children’s homes (orphanages) and moved around various foster households during his childhood.

One family included a riverboat gambler and a professional burglar so he ran away from that.

In truth, I didn’t embark on a journey with a traveling carnival at the tender age of thirteen, nor was I tasked with maintaining the Ferris wheel, hammering in tent pegs, or tickling the ivories for the dance troupe.

Vanilla Ice: Invented a bad boy rapper persona 

Slightly less elaborate than Bob’s lies, Vanilla Ice initially claimed he had a rough upbringing in Florida and was met with controversy after alleging Miami was his hometown. 

Born in Dallas, the rapper initially seemed to confess that he had distorted aspects of his childhood narrative. He also confessed feeling embarrassed to disclose that he hailed from an inner-city suburb of Dallas.

In an interview with The Ringer, he mentioned that he resided in Miami and penned “Ice Ice Baby” inspired by the city. At the moment, he wasn’t concerned about his origins; it was something that gained significance once he had achieved fame.

I used to find myself saying, “Origin story? Frankly, it matters not a bit!” I felt a twinge of shame when I mentioned hailing from Farmers Branch. Instead, I’d steer the conversation towards Miami or any other location.

“I would say something like, ‘Hey, I live right around the block, really close by. I was trying to avoid drawing attention to myself.’

It was uncovered that, contrary to his assertions of a deprived childhood spent on the streets, he had actually owned and driven an IROC Camaro Z28 during his youth.

Yet, during an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Vanilla Ice stated that he spent much of his childhood moving between Miami and Dallas.

In the past, we were cash-strapped. Yet, I recall owning a swanky vehicle that I purchased using my motocross earnings. Regrettably, there wasn’t enough left over for fuel. It might have seemed like I was wealthy, but in truth, I was not.

He admitted to twisting the truth to shield his personal life, since he didn’t want others to discover his true identity due to his past misbehavior during his teenage years.

Biggie Smalls: Mother called him out over songs about poor childhood 

However, it’s not just Vanilla Ice who has falsified his origins in the realm of hip-hop, as the late Biggie Smalls also did this, asserting that his childhood poverty was so severe that he subsisted on canned sardines for meals.

In his hit Juicy he rapped: ‘Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner’ however his mother Voletta Wallace later denied this was true. 

She also explained her son liked to exaggerate after he said they skipped Christmas.

In the book “Unbelievable” about the rapper, Cheo Hodari Coker stated that although Voletta didn’t traditionally observe holidays due to being a Jehovah’s Witness, it was common to emphasize or even exaggerate holiday celebrations for street credibility.

The musician who met his untimely end in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles back in 1997, had attended a private Roman Catholic school in Brooklyn. Contrary to what he portrayed in his music as a child, the ‘one room shack’ was actually a seven-room apartment situated within the city.

The 972-square-foot apartment was refurbished with new floors, appliances and countertops, and put on the market for $4000 per month back in 2019. 

Indeed, at the age of 17, Biggie Smalls left his education behind and engaged in drug dealing, finding inspiration for his raps in the street hustlers he observed.

Yet, while his mother belonged to the middle class and held a Master’s degree in education, she was raised him with warmth and encouragement. However, contrary to what one might expect from his wealth, as suggested by his lyrics, he didn’t reciprocate these acts of love by buying her a mink coat or a car.

She shared with The Guardian that she doesn’t know how to drive, which is a thing he might have appreciated. Some of the tales, however, are about his friends.

‘He rapped that he was poor and Christmas missed him? Christmas never missed my son. As far as the line about the landlord insulting us, I never owed. Up to this day, my credit is the best in the world. He’s telling a story.’

Rick Ross: Styled himself as a gangster 

In other places, Rick Ross’s explicit rap music brags about dealing drugs like “dope,” thereby creating a persona for himself as a criminal or gang member.

However, in 2007, a picture surfaced of the rapper wearing what seemed like a prison guard’s uniform, implying that some of his songs claiming to be a drug lord may not have been entirely truthful.

At first, Ross claimed not to be the person in the picture, but once The Smoking Gun disclosed what seemed like his social security information, suggesting he’d worked as a correction officer at the South Florida Reception Center for 18 months, there was no more denying the truth.

In the mid-90s, between 1995 and 1997, Ross held that position while still in his youthful twenties. However, he maintained that the themes in his songs were based on genuine life experiences.

He told XXL magazine: ‘The stuff I talk about is real. The dope is real.’

Additionally, Ross emphasized that he hadn’t truly been employed within a penitentiary, because he hadn’t yet reached the higher rank or position there.

He also revealed he was on a salary of $1,000 per month and he did not enjoy the work at all.

Kid Rock: Grew up on sprawling estate

Kid Rock gained fame as an artist with tattoos, wearing vests and snapbacks, often associated with a controversial stereotype referred to as ‘white trash’ culture. This image, for which he’s faced much criticism, is a significant aspect of his persona.

As a devoted follower, I’ve noticed that his persona sparked discomfort among working-class Americans, but it’s worth mentioning that there are those who question his authenticity due to his non-working-class upbringing and the perceived incongruity between his aesthetic and his background.

Born as Robert James Ritchie, this individual spent his childhood on a vast property owned by his parents, Susan and William Ritchie, who ran a chain of automobile dealerships.

His childhood was quite different from the lifestyle depicted in his songs, often associated with country rock music, that some might imagine as being more rural or suburban rather than trailer park-like.

As a child, he spent time on his vast family estate, where he harvested apples from the orchard and cared for the family’s horses.

Following the exposure of his affluent upbringing, Ritchie faced criticism for his supposedly inauthentic portrayal as a working-class individual.

2017 saw an article in the Detroit Free Press accusing him of adopting, or using, elements of African-American music culture that are not traditionally part of his own. In other words, they claimed he was borrowing cultural aspects from Black music without fully understanding its history and significance.

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2024-12-19 04:19