Sylvester Stallone scoffs at nepotism critics over daughter's 'Tulsa King' role: 'You idiot'

Sylvester Stallone isn't apologizing for giving his daughter a shot in Hollywood.

The 80-year-old action star is pushing back against criticism of nepotism after casting his daughter, Scarlet Rose Stallone, in his crime drama "Tulsa King," delivering a blunt response to those who question whether she earned her place on the show.

"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 said, according to USA Today .

SYLVESTER STALLONE SHARES HARROWING NEW DETAILS ABOUT ABUSIVE CHILDHOOD "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," Stallone laughed.

The "Rocky" legend made clear that getting an opportunity and proving oneself are two different things.

SYLVESTER STALLONE SAYS HE'D BE IN 'BIG TROUBLE' TRYING TO MAKE HIS CAREER IN TODAY'S HOLLYWOOD "Can they maintain that level of excellence? That’s out of our hands," he said, according to USA Today.

Scarlet, 24, plays Spencer in "Tulsa King," while her father plays Dwight "The General" Manfredi, a New York mobster who attempts to build a criminal empire in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after spending years behind bars.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Scarlet, who debuted in season one, takes on a bigger role in season four as her character becomes increasingly involved in the family’s criminal operation.

Stallone shares three daughters with his wife Jennifer Flavin — Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet.

GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE He also recently opened up about the physical toll of his decades-long Hollywood career while promoting the fourth season of "Tulsa King." In an interview with Fox News Digital, Stallone revealed that his work on "The Expendables" left him with serious injuries to his back, neck and shoulders.