Lola Young addressed the allegations that she’s a ‘nepo baby’ or an ‘industry plant’ as she appeared on Capital Buzz on Wednesday.

The South-London born songstress dominated the UK’s music charts thanks to her popular track Messy and made history after becoming the youngest British female artist to score a solo number-one single since Dua Lipa in 2017.

She also performed at the BRIT Awards last month and was nominated in the Best Pop Act category.

Despite her recent triumph, some fans have branded the singer a ‘nepo baby’ after discovering her aunt is Julia Donaldson, the author behind the beloved children’s book The Gruffalo.

People have also hit out, calling Lola an ‘industry plant,’ which is someone who presents as organically growing their fame but have actually been set up by a label.

Capital host Sam Pearce asked the rising star: ‘Something that happens any time an artist blows up, the term industry plant gets thrown around, and obviously people have no idea that you’ve been working since 2019. How do you feel about that term?’

Lola Young addressed the allegations that she’s a ‘ nepo baby ‘ or an ‘industry plant’ as she appeared on Capital Buzz on Wednesday

The South-London born songstress dominated the UK’s music charts thanks to her popular track Messy (pictured performing at the BRIT Awards)

Hitting back at the ‘losers that comment rubbish,’ Lola quipped: ‘No, they don’t know, otherwise they wouldn’t be saying that. I think it is just the most stupid term. 

‘I think there are cases of industry plants but so what? It doesn’t mean they’re not talented and it doesn’t take away from anything. 

‘People are saying I’m a nepo baby because my great Aunt wrote The Gruffalo. I mean what kind of rubbish is that?’

She continued: ‘I have so much to say on that which I can’t even talk about. But I’m not a nepo baby, I’m not an industry plant, there we go I said it. 

‘I’ve cleared that up for all those losers that want to comment rubbish on the internet. Just find something better to do, you’re sad, you’re lonely. 

‘The thing is industry plant is just a term for other artists and other people to use who just don’t know what they’re doing in life and feel upset that someone else is having their moment. 

‘And if you are an industry plant, you’re not going to have your moment for that long, unfortunately. 

‘And maybe sometimes you will, it just doesn’t matter, none of these things matter. If someone’s got talent, then they’ve got talent.’

She then clarified: ‘Yeah, and I’m also not an industry plant at all by the way.’

Hitting back at the ‘losers that comment rubbish,’ Lola quipped: ‘No, they don’t know, otherwise they wouldn’t be saying that. I think it is just the most stupid term’

She added: ‘I think there are cases of industry plants but so what? It doesn’t mean they’re not talented and it doesn’t take away from anything’

Sam responded: ‘I also feel people have this false idea because you went to the BRIT School, that the BRIT School just churns out stars left right and centre.’

Shutting it down again, Lola said: ‘They actually don’t and it’s a normal school and I went to a really like rough school before that and you have to audition to get in.’ 

In February, Lola shocked fans after they discovered she has a famous family member. 

The singer has been working in the industry for years, but her career skyrocketed recently thanks to her viral hit Messy, which topped the charts and took over TikTok.

Her rise to fame has sparked curiosity, with many eager to learn more about her journey.

Lola began writing songs at just 11 years old and won a national open mic compeтιтion by 13.

She honed her craft at the prestigious Brit School in Croydon, known for producing stars like Adele and Amy Winehouse.

Fans may also recognise her voice from the 2021 John Lewis Christmas advert, The Unexpected Guest.

She recently made history as the youngest British female artist to score a solo number-one single since Dua Lipa’s New Rules in 2017.

She continued: ‘I have so much to say on that which I can’t even talk about. But I’m not a nepo baby, I’m not an industry plant, there we go I said it’

The singer added: ‘People are saying I’m a nepo baby because my great Aunt wrote The Gruffalo. I mean what kind of rubbish is that?’

Read More The No 1 artist you’ve probably never heard of! Inside Lola Young’s TikTok-fuelled rise to fame

Her success continues to grow, with sold-out UK and US tours, an upcoming debut at Coachella, and a nomination for Best Pop Act at the 2024 BRIT Awards.

Now signed to Island Records, Lola is backed by some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Her debut album, My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely, was released last year, followed by her latest project, This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway.

But fans are only just discovering that Lola has a surprising family connection – her aunt is none other than Julia Donaldson.

Julia, 76, is the renowned author behind the beloved children’s book The Gruffalo and many other best-selling тιтles.

She is a Scottish author, who first found success in the late ‘90s and went on to become the Children’s Laureate from 2011 to 2013.

Before her breakthrough as a writer, she penned songs for children’s TV, showcasing her storytelling talents through music.

Now based in West SusSєx, Julia was awarded an MBE in 2011 for her contributions to literature.

After discovering the family connection, fans took to X, formerly Twitter to share their thoughts.

Julia is a Scottish author, who first found success in the late ‘90s and went on to become the Children’s Laureate from 2011 to 2013 

After discovering the family connection, fans took to X, formerly Twitter to share their thoughts

They wrote: ‘Feel like this women appeared out of nowhere in the past few months so I had a Google. Her Auntie wrote ‘The Gruffalo’ and she went to the BRIT school. LOL. Same as it ever was,’

‘Oh the gruffalo. if your aunt wrote the gruffalo you’re basically set for life. everyone knows the gruffalo,’

‘If Lola Young suddenly burst onto the writing or literature world out of nowhere with a best seller, then sure! her aunt being a famous author would warrant some nepo baby side eye but get an actual grip how is the Gruffalo helping her TikTok fame,’

‘I don’t really think lola young’s aunt being julia donaldson makes her that much more of a nepo baby than anyone else who grows up with access to the arts and then makes it their career. it distracts from the real issue: the gruffalo ҒUCҜing terrified me as a child,’

‘It’s not even overnight I’ve known about Lola young for two years bc of her trying to promote her music and guess what the algorithm worked so well on tiktok that she found her audience who likes her music, could care less if her aunt wrote a British book.’

Lola previously said that having an artistic family helped her believe that making a career in music was within reach.

She mentioned that she grew up surrounded by creativity, which gave her the confidence to pursue her own artistic ambitions.

‘Coming from an artistic family was really helpful because they understood that music is a real job, that I can make money from it,’ she told The Telegraph.

‘I never had a plan B,’ she added.