“There is no Ken without Barbie”: Ryan Gosling calls out Hollywood for overlooking Gerwig and Robbie

In a recent statement, Ryan Gosling shared his thoughts on his Oscar nomination for his role in the hit film Barbie, while also expressing his disappointment over the lack of individual nominations for the film’s director, Greta Gerwig, and lead actress, Margot Robbie.

The film has garnered widespread attention, securing eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. However, Gerwig and Robbie were noticeably absent from the Best Director and Best Actress categories.

Gosling, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Ken, expressed his gratitude and surprise at the nomination. In a statement, he said, “I am extremely honored to be nominated alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought I’d be saying this, but I’m also incredibly honored and proud that it’s for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.”

He continued, “But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.”

Gosling highlighted the indispensable contributions of Gerwig and Robbie, stating, “No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius. To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”

In the film, which has been praised for its innovative approach, Gosling and Robbie bring to life the iconic characters of Ken and Barbie. Gosling noted the unique challenges and achievements of the film, saying, “Against all odds with nothing but a couple of soulless, scantily clad, and thankfully crotchless dolls, they made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history. Their work should be recognised along with the other very deserving nominees.”

Gosling also expressed happiness for his co-star America Ferrera and others involved in the film who received nominations.

Barbie has also received nods in categories like Best Costume Design, Production Design, and two original songs. Notably, Gerwig bagged a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, shared with co-writer Noah Baumbach, and Robbie was nominated for Best Picture in her role as a producer.

This year’s Oscar nominations have seen some other notable absences, such as Wes Anderson’s star-studded Asteroid City and the provocative class satire Saltburn.

The editorial unit

Winners of the 96^th Oscars will be announced on 10^th March 2024. For more information, visit their website here.

See the full list of nominees below: