Carnie Wilson Slams Haters Calling Daughter Lola Bonfiglio ‘A Nepo Baby’ After ‘American Idol’ Audition Filled With Famous Relatives

Baila Eve ZismanApril 1, 2025, 10:48 pmNews >

Wilson Phillips singer Carnie Wilson has stepped in to defend her daughter against “nepotism baby” allegations.

Notably, Wilson, the daughter of Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson, is a nepo baby herself.

Wilson’s daughter, Lola Bonfiglio, recently auditioned for American Idol in an episode that aired on March 23. In the episode, during Bonfiglio’s audition, judge Carrie Underwood mused, “I’m guessing you come from a musical family,” and asked Bonfiglio what she planned on performing. Bonfiglio responded, “First, I have to get some family members.” She proceeded to bring Wilson, her father Rob Bonfiglio, and Wilson’s sister, Wendy – fellow Wilson Phillips founder – on stage in a move that many interpreted as an attempt to profit from her parents’ fame.

Bonfiglio, Wilson and Wendy went on to sing Wilson Phillips’ 1992 hit “Hold On,” which earned them approval from the three judges, Underwood, Lionel Ritchie and Luke Bryan.

Since the achievement, Bonfiglio has received an avalanche of hate comments calling her out for using her parents to attract attention to her act.

One person commented on X, “She’s one from a line of amazing singers. However, this is the perfect example of an average singer using their connection to help them. Maybe she has more to offer, but I wasn’t as wowed as I have been with other singers.”

At the Music of the 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, on Sunday, Wilson stated, “I just wanna say, we’re human, and the internet is so cruel. It can be so cruel,” and explained how some comments on the audition had been “really pissing me off and I can’t respond.”

Wilson continued, “Would you encourage a doctor’s son not to be a doctor? No. Would you ever say, ‘Don’t be a doctor because your dad’s a doctor?’ Lola wants to be a singer, and they say these terrible things, and she is so hurt.”

She added, “It was the scariest thing she has ever done. She was trembling with nerves, and she did great…I’m so proud of her, and they asked us to sing, you know, so we came and crashed the party.”