Los Angeles, California - The "nepo baby" discourse continues to rage on as social media users react to a new report about actor Timothée Chalamet.

The internet drama began when a tweet from @DiscussingFilm claimed that the 27-year-old was among several prominent actors who had auditioned for the leading role in Gladiator 2.

Chalamet's agent, Brian Swardstrom, then stepped in by responding to the now-deleted tweet: "I know one of these actors was shooting a film in the middle east for the past several months – and he hasn’t auditioned for anything in more than 7 years."

The obvious nod to the Dune star caught the internet's eye as social media users responded to the agent's claim that suggested Chalamet doesn't need to audition for roles anymore.

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For some, the statement was anything but newsworthy, as an Oscar-nominated actor surely has a better selection of roles than most actors.

For others, though, the tweet reignited their fury about the rampant issue of "nepo babies" plaguing Hollywood.

Since his film debut in 2014, Chalamet has starred in an impressive string of acclaimed movies, including Call Me by Your Name, Little Women, and Bones and All.

Though he has undoubtedly proven his talent, some have used Swardstrom's tweet as a way to reignite the nepotism discourse that was brought to the forefront by a New York Magazine cover story last December.

The online debates questioned how many so-called "nepo babies" truly deserved their success. It's impossible to make a blanket statement about this group of Hollywood stars, but many still like to call out the apparent favoritism in the industry.

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Some fans have taken Swardstrom's tweet as evidence that Chalamet is receiving preferential treatment due to nepotism.

"hollywood is giving him a special treatment. Chalamet is a nepo baby but a lot of people don't know that, but he has a uncle in the industry that open a lot of doors for him," one user tweeted.

While Chalamet undeniably has significant privilege in his career, is it really fair to brand him a nepo baby?

Chalamet's mother is a real estate agent, while his father is a journalist. His uncle Rodman Flender, however, is a director.

While fans have debated the impact of this connection, the star's work should certainly speak for itself at this point in his career.

Others also noted that, regardless of potential nepo baby status, certain actors continue to be granted preferential treatment by casting teams.

"With all the talk about nepo babies having privilege, when an actor is established enough, they also get unfair treatment. There's so much talent out there that'll never be seen because established actors will always be [favored]" one fan tweeted.

Getting special treatment for being an established actor is a slightly more reasonable critique of Chalamet than branding him a nepo baby undeserving of his fame, but it's a complicated trend to address.

After all, established actors will always receive preferential treatment because they have already proven their talents, and they consistently bring in a wave of fans who will watch anything they're in.

Acting is an extremely difficult industry to break into, there is no doubt about that. There are certainly needed improvements in increasing the accessibility of opportunities for up-and-coming actors, especially those from marginalized communities.

However, it's ridiculous to think that prior success won't – or shouldn't – impact the opportunities available to experienced actors.