Aston Merrygold has denounced the term 'nepo baby' after revealing that his son Jaxon has an agent and aspirations to become a singer and actor. The 38-year-old, who rose to fame on The X Factor in 2005 as part of JLS alongside Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes, and JB Gill, shares three children with his wife Sarah-Louise, 36: Grayson Jax, eight, Macaulay Shay, five, and Riley Skye, two.
Teaching Thick Skin
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the star disclosed that his eldest child is already eager to follow in his footsteps, aiming for a career in singing and acting. When asked about the potential 'nepo baby' label if Jaxon succeeds, Aston responded: 'As long as you're doing yourself justice and you're being true to yourself, who cares, to be blunt, it's got to that point where you just kind of go, who cares?... Like it's, you know, you could have, you know, we'll have 101 names for everything that we do in every sector.'
Already equipped with an agent, Aston is hopeful that Jaxon will achieve his stardom dreams and has already imparted his first lesson. He explained that he told Jaxon that a thick skin is essential for the entertainment industry. 'The first thing I was always taught though, was to have thick skin. If you're going to be in this industry, you need thick skin. I think that's the best advice I've ever been given, and it was the first bit of advice I was ever given. I instill that into my children very, very quickly. We're in an entertainment game. It's a bit like public opinion perception, all of it. It's an opinion. It's what people are going to say. People are going to say probably a hell of a lot worse.'
Jaxon's Ambitions
Describing the extent of his child's aspirations, Aston said Jaxon is ready to pursue a wide range of industry opportunities. He revealed: 'My eldest, he's got his own agent now and he wants to be a singer and an actor, and he wants to do everything. There's so much stuff that as a performer, you can't control what goes out after a certain point. So as long as we can control that as parents and keep them safe to a degree, that's what it's about.'
Aston and his family have been increasing their online presence as a family, recently involving their children more in social media videos. Speaking about his children being in the public eye, he told the Daily Mail: 'We're at a stage now where we can't hide it. It's a bit of a norm in our house.' He clarified that while the family is active publicly, his children are not pressured into filming and are 'free to be kids' whenever they prefer not to be on camera.
New Venture: Audiobook Narration
Aston, who is currently working with Bupa Dental Care, has added a new skill to his repertoire by voicing the audiobook of The Dentist’s Apprentice. In an effort to encourage children to feel less nervous about dentist visits and improve their brushing habits, Aston has been sharing his parenting tips alongside promoting the book.
Aston said: 'Brushing teeth can feel like a daily battle in many households, especially when you're trying to make sure little ones brush for long enough. At home, I try to keep it fun, using music, brushing together and sticking to routines. Making brushing enjoyable really helps, and it makes a big difference when it comes to visiting the dentist too.'
The Dentist’s Apprentice is available in Bupa Dental Care practices across the UK, allowing children to read the story before or during appointments to help them feel at ease.
