Barry Jenkins has defended the casting of Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara in the upcoming film, Mufasa: The Lion King, addressing accusations of nepotism. Jenkins explained why Beyoncé and Jay-Z‘s daughter was chosen for the role and emphasized that her selection was based on merit rather than family ties.

Blue Ivy has already earned praise for her growing portfolio, with her acting debut in Mufasa: The Lion King set to premiere this December. Despite some assuming that her casting was due to her famous parents, Jenkins made it clear in an August 12 interview with Entertainment Tonight that it was Blue Ivy’s talent that secured her the role.

“She did a wonderful job bringing Kiara to life,” Jenkins said. “I’m really proud of her and the work she did. When we were looking for someone to play this character, I thought, ‘She’s the right age, she has the right vibe. Let’s see what she can do.’ She was tremendous. Some of her work in this film is incredibly emotional. She’s a thespian. Her casting had nothing to do with her mom and dad—she was the right young woman for the job.”

BLUE IVY EARLY CAREER

Blue Ivy’s success in the industry is not surprising, given the guidance she’s received from her mother, Beyoncé, who taught her how to navigate public criticism. Tina Knowles, Blue Ivy’s grandmother, shared an anecdote about how Beyoncé helped her daughter handle negative comments online.

“One of [Blue Ivy’s] friends showed her some hurtful comments, and it became a valuable lesson,” Tina Knowles explained. “Her mom told her, ‘If you let this bring you down, they win. Instead, you should work harder, perfect your skills, and prove them wrong.’”

Tina also revealed that this experience pushed Blue Ivy to continue performing. “Initially, she was only supposed to do it once. But with her mother’s encouragement, she went back out there and delivered. She grew so much from that experience.”