Sylvester Stallone admits nepotism in Scarlet’s ‘Tulsa King’ casting: ‘That’s why we’re parents’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sylvester Stallone has defended helping his daughter, Scarlet Rose Stallone, secure a role in his hit Paramount+ series ‘Tulsa King’, openly acknowledging that nepotism played a part in her casting.
The 80-year-old actor addressed criticism of the decision in a recent interview with USA Today. Scarlet, 24, has played Stablehand Spencer since the show's launch and is set to have an expanded role in its ongoing fourth season.
Sylvester Stallone defends nepotism in Scarlet's casting
In the Taylor Sheridan-created drama ‘Tulsa King’, Stallone portrays Dwight 'The General' Manfredi, a mafia lieutenant sent to Oklahoma after being released from prison. While Scarlet has secured a place in the series, her casting has drawn criticism over the advantages she received through her father.
Responding to the criticism in the interview, Stallone defended parents who use their positions to help their children.
He remarked, “First they go, Nepotism is terrible, I said, ‘Oh please, you’re not a good parent if you haven’t performed a little nepotism. Then obviously you don’t care about your kids, because they come first.”
He also acknowledged that his daughter had benefited from his position in the entertainment industry, saying, “Of course it’s nepotism, you idiot, that’s why we’re parents. We want the best for our children. So obviously we let them have every advantage.”
However, the actor also explained that receiving an opportunity does not automatically guarantee lasting success. According to him, Scarlet will ultimately have to demonstrate her abilities to maintain her position in Hollywood.
“Can they maintain that level of excellence? That’s out of our hands,” Stallone told USA Today. “But if you can open the door, we’ll see if they have the ability to go through it. People will say, ‘She got that job, it’s too easy.’ You’re right. Perhaps it could be. But to maintain that, to be in front of millions of people, you either got it or you don’t.”
Scarlet Stallone on working with her father
Scarlet is one of three daughters Sylvester Stallone shares with his wife, Jennifer Flavin. Her sisters are Sophia, 30, and Sistine, 28. Stallone also has two sons, Seargeoh, 47, and Sage, whom he had with his ex-wife, Sasha Czack.
Sage died in 2012 at the age of 36. In an interview with PEOPLE at PaleyFest NY 2026 on October 10, Scarlet discussed how working professionally with her father had changed their relationship. She said the experience had “completely changed” their dynamic, allowing them to spend more time together and develop a closer bond.
“Before, he was working constantly, so getting to work together for once is just an amazing opportunity,” Scarlet told PEOPLE.
She further said, “We’ve grown as friends. We’ve really become friends. We really got to know one another and really respect each other throughout this whole process, through the ups and downs.”
Beyond her role in ‘Tulsa King’, Scarlet has also appeared in the films ‘Hunting Season’ and ‘Gunslingers’, both released in 2025. She worked alongside Mel Gibson in ‘Hunting Season’ and Nicolas Cage in ‘Gunslingers’, adding to her acting credits as she continues to pursue opportunities in Hollywood.
