Rob Lowe accepts Brat Pack label after admitting nickname was meant to mock renowned group.

Rob Lowe is now accepting the Brat Pack label, which he once criticized as being meant to demean us.

In 1985, David Blum of New York Magazine used the term "Brat Pack" to describe a group of young, up-and-coming stars, including Lowe, who were compared to the famous Rat Pack. Despite their dislike for the label, it gained popularity among fans and the members are still known by the nickname today.

In a Wall Street Journal interview published on Tuesday, Lowe, who is now 60 years old, expressed a more positive view of the label.

Lowe stated that it is fortunate that we have been given names for our contributions as actors and that fans continue to care about us 40 years later.

In the 1980s, a group of young actors known as The Brat Pack gained fame through movies such as "St. Elmo's Fire," "The Breakfast Club," "About Last Night…," "Sixteen Candles," and "Pretty in Pink." They embodied the teenage angst of their generation and have since become a symbol of pop culture.

The Brat Pack, which includes Lowe, Estevez, Nelson, Moore, McCarthy, Sheedy, Ringwald, Hall, Estevez, and Cryer, among others, has had some ambiguity regarding its members.

In his New York Magazine article titled "Hollywood's Brat Pack," Blum designated Lowe, Estevez, and Nelson as members of the group, while also naming other young stars such as Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, and Nicolas Cage as potential members.

"The 'Brat Pack' of Hollywood in the 1980s was a group of famous young stars who were known for their parties, women, and good times, just like the Rat Pack in the 1960s."

In an August interview with People magazine, Lowe voiced his disapproval of Blum's narrative and the classification.

""The article was a hit piece, designed to belittle us and make us look small, with the journalistic trick of plausible deniability," he said."

In a 1987 Los Angeles Times article, Blum responded to the criticism he faced from the actors he labeled the Brat Pack in his New York Magazine story.

Estevez was the subject of an article that originated during the filming of "St. Elmo's Fire." Blum disclosed that he coined the term Brat Pack after a night out with Estevez, Lowe, and Nelson.

"Blum wrote that while he didn't consider it an inspiration, he thought it was a clever way to describe the actors he had met through his reporting."

He continued, "They had acted like brats, which is not to say that I would not have acted the same way if I were 23, famous, and rich. I might have been worse, but these guys definitely fit the bill."

Lowe stated to People magazine that he found the aftereffects of Blum's article to be unpleasant. Despite this, he acknowledged that the author's depiction of him in the story was not as unfavorable as that of other actors.

"I ended up doing well that night," he remarked. "It was the rare occasion when I returned home early. Someone must have been watching over me."

The New York Magazine article discussed the ambiguity regarding which actors were classified as members of the Brat Pack.

"The Brat Pack membership in Hollywood is a topic of disagreement among everyone, as they base their decisions on trivial matters such as box office success, rising and falling star status, and magazine cover appearances. Occasionally, someone makes a misguided judgment based on talent."

"All of us should feel lucky to have been given a name for what we contributed as actors and that fans still care 40 years later." — Rob Lowe

Unlike the Rat Pack's Marlon Brando, James Dean, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino, none of the Brat Pack members had undergone extensive acting training. Additionally, Blum pointed out that the Brat Pack actors were not college graduates.

At a young age, Lowe became enamored with acting after viewing the musical "Oliver!"

At the age of 12, Lowe's family relocated to Malibu, California, where he started filming movies with a Super 8 camera alongside Sean Penn's late brother Chris Penn and other children. Some of these kids would eventually become famous.

"Chris's brother Sean Penn, Charlie Sheen, and Emilio Estevez were part of the acting group. I eventually got to know them and made my own movies with Charlie," the "Floor" host remembered.

At Santa Monica High School, I consistently sat in the front row and raised my hand with the correct answer. I was that student. However, I did not participate in school plays. By that time, I had an agent and was attending auditions.

Lowe discussed how his early career success prompted him to delay college and shared his insights on how he honed his skills.

Lowe remembered how at 15, he had already co-starred in his first network TV sitcom, ABC’s ‘A New Kind of Family.’ By his senior year, he was cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Outsiders.’ He had to choose between going to film school at UCLA or USC or making the movie.

"He decided to postpone film school and instead focused on his acting career. As a result, he never attended college. He honed his acting skills by observing more seasoned actors on set and through hands-on experience. Eventually, he began working with an acting coach."

In his interview with People magazine, Lowe stated that being recognized as part of the Brat Pack likely harmed our reputation in the industry.

During an interview on "Good Morning America" in June, director McCarthy stated that the actors in the group disliked the Brat Pack nickname at the time, as revealed in his Hulu documentary "Brats."

Being labeled a brat as a child is something that no one wants, especially when they think they are one and don't want to be part of a pack. This can have a significant impact on our lives, as we know.

In an interview with People magazine that month, McCarthy stated that although the nickname was well-liked by fans, it negatively influenced the industry's view of the actors.

"The "St. Elmo's Fire" star stated that the film had professional consequences, with the public accepting it but the business reacting negatively."

In his New York Magazine article, Blum asserted that the Brat Pack members made derogatory remarks about one another.

The Brat Pack members, despite being so enmeshed in the ensemble spirit, are solely focused on their individual pursuits. One actor remarks, "Sean is completely consumed by his role preparations, fully immersing himself in the character." Meanwhile, another actor from 'St. Elmo's Fire' notes that Andrew McCarthy's intensity in every role may hinder his success in the long run.

"The Brat Packers save their praise for themselves," Blum added.

In her 2011 book, "You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried," Blum stated that Lowe, Estevez, and Nelson felt betrayed by his portrayal of them, which led them to part ways.

Gora was informed by Sheedy that Blum's article "totally ruined" the relationships among the group members.

"That guy blew it to pieces, and I felt like I was no longer a part of it," she said.

In June, McCarthy released a documentary titled "Brats" that examined the influence of the Brat Pack label on the actors' personal lives and professional trajectories.

Although most actors participated in the documentary, Nelson, Ringwald, and Hall opted out. Nevertheless, Blum agreed to be included and was interviewed by McCarthy.

In a June article for Vulture, Blum wrote that McCarthy's edited film, despite claiming to depict the Brat Pack as mistreated by the phrase "man," actually glosses over the fact that there is no longer any animosity between the Brat Pack actors and Blum.

McCarthy and I hugged it out, sitcom style, at the end of our interview. Demi Moore clasped my hands in hers as though greeting an old friend at the Brats premiere.

In his August interview with People, Lowe stated that despite the negative connotations of the Brat Pack nickname in Hollywood, fans accepted and embraced the term.

"At the end of the day, what truly matters is the public, and they didn't receive the memo. They're like, 'That sounds cool,'" said the "Austin Powers" star.

He said that he realized the moniker was a good thing quicker than the rest of the group of actors.

The Brat Pack is experiencing a resurgence, as Lowe commended the "Brats" documentary.

"Andrew McCarthy's documentary is the reason I'm so happy," he said.

"Becoming comfortable as an actor marked a significant milestone for me, and it was the start of an exhilarating journey."