When the Oscar nominations come out, usually the newly-nominated actors are rushed into giving interviews to every outlet – they’ll send in statements to Good Morning America or the Today Show, they’ll chat with Variety, Deadline and the Hollywood Reporter. Maybe People Magazine or Entertainment Weekly will get some exclusive quotes. When the full scope of the Barbie Oscar snubs was revealed, that didn’t happen with the Barbie people. America Ferrera gave her first interview a good eight hours after the nominations came out. Ryan Gosling waited even longer. Gosling and Ferrera were the only actors nominated from Barbie – Margot Robbie was snubbed in Best Actress. Greta Gerwig was snubbed for Best Director. I’m not sure the AMPAS voters expected this kind of cultural backlash but people are heated (justifiably so). And it feels like Warner Bros gave Gosling and Ferrera the nod to speak out about the snubs. Here’s what Ryan had to say:
Ryan Gosling has issued a statement about Barbie‘s Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie being snubbed in two key Oscar categories.
“I am extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films,” the actor began. “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.”
“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. 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.”
“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 recognized along with the other very deserving nominees.”
“Having said that,” Gosling concluded, “I am so happy for America Ferrera and the other incredible artists who contributed their talents to making this such a groundbreaking film.”
Yeah, I’ve been following awards season stuff for many, many years and these kinds of statements are very, very rare. Especially given that this is Gosling’s first (and only, as of this writing) statement in reaction to his own Oscar nomination. Usually, actors keep it simple, lead with gratitude and avoid calling out the Academy for snubbing their colleagues. Gosling is saying this with his whole chest- that it is flatly wrong for Robbie and Gerwig’s work to be left unrecognized. Good for him. (Plus, he doesn’t want to perform that stupid “I’m Just Ken” song at the Oscars, so he’s actively trying to piss them off.)
Photos courtesy of Warner Bros/Barbie, Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.
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- Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie at the Barbie European Premiere at Cineworld in Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom on 12 July 2023.,Image: 788742881, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Cat Morley / Avalon
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- Ryan Gosling attends ‘ Barbie ‘ – European Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square in London, UK. Monday 12th July 2023. -,Image: 788877387, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NORESTRICTIONS, Model Release: no, Pictured: ‘ Barbie ‘ – European Premiere, Credit line: James Warren / Bang Showbiz / Avalon
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- Venice, CA – Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling share a laugh as they film a rollerblading scene for ‘Barbie’ in Venice Beach in very bright and colorful neon attire. Pictured: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling BACKGRID USA 28 JUNE 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Venice, CA – Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling share a laugh as they film a rollerblading scene for ‘Barbie’ in Venice Beach in very bright and colorful neon attire. Pictured: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling BACKGRID USA 28 JUNE 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- ‘Barbie’ photocall at the Four Seasons Hotel. Featuring: Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie Where: Mexico City, Mexico When: 07 Jul 2023 Credit: Carlos Tischler/EyePix/INSTARimages
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- 16th Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Hotel. Santa Barbara, January 13, 2024 Featuring: Ryan Gosling, Greta Gerwig Where: Santa Barbara, California, United States When: 13 Jan 2024 Credit: Carla Van Wagoner/Future Image/Cover Images **NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN GERMANY**
It’s a good statement and hits all the right notes. Glad he made it. Of course, he would have been dragged for filth if he hadn’t.
I’m not the first to say this, but Ken being recognized while Barbie and Greta were not is so on the nose it hurts.
I hope he didn’t torpedo his own chances of winning by speaking out, but I’m so happy he did.
I think he knows it’s going to RDJ at this point. Oscars are about the campaign, not the movie.
I have to be honest: I am disappointed, considering Gosling’s allyship with women (at least, it always seemed that way), I think he should have boycotted the nomination. I think all nominated for Barbie should, but Gosling especially, given the context of his role, the movie itself and this whole incredibly misogynistic turn of events. He’d get that Oscar sooner or later, we all know that,. and he could have made a clear stance that this is intolerable.
Respectfully, I disagree. I feel like he also campaigned his heart out for this movie, he definitely did so for his kids and that is an excellent statement. He should be nominated and so should his costars and director.
Barbie as a movie was nominated for Best Picture. If it wins Margot gets an Oscar as a producer.
And if you are asking for Ryan to boycott then you are putting America in a bad position if she doesn’t also. And should the Barbie Producers boycott for Best Picture?
Absolutely not.
They all deserved their nominations. And Ryan put out a well thought press release expressing his disappointment.
+1
You should be happy Ryan said anything at all because he truly didn’t have to. Do you have the same request of America? Should she boycott her nomination because Margot & Greta weren’t individually nominated?
Oh for goodness sake. You can’t “boycott” a nomination. You can “boycott” the actual award, but let’s be real, it’s not going to Ryan. Also to suggest that “all nominated for Barbie” should boycott their nominations is lunacy. The Oscars isn’t just about the A-listers like Margot and Greta. Hundreds of people work on these films ,and to see your work nominated in a “below the line” category is a career-making occurrence. Even if Barbie got zero noms, Margot and Greta would still be millionaires. It’s the nameless, faceless crew that no one cares about that really see their fortunes and career trajectories change with these nominations. To suggest they boycott them in solidarity with their multi-millionare bosses is madness.
Our eally think some 2nd assistant of production team 4 will get a major career advance because the movie she/he worked on was nominated and didn’t boycott Oscars ?
Opposed to if they boycotted?
And of course that I meant boycott the Oscars, I don’t think anyone thought I meant it any differently, but good for you for pointing that out, it reall adds to conversation. 😉
He’s not trying to “piss them off”, Ryan has been campaigning a lot, including for Song. A bunch of new versions of that song were released to boost it and he was always supportive (nothing wrong with that btw). He was expected to say something since he was nominated and Margot and Greta were not. Also I want to say that I remember very well how the media (not this site in particular) and even twitter were ALL OVER Ken and were saying Ryan’s performance was the highlight of the movie. I think this also played part on Margot not getting the nom unfortunately, since they could have felt she was a bit overshadowed. Greta’s snub I understand but I don’t at the same time since the movie was huge and the direction was great, but snubs also happened with James Cameron and his Avatar and Villeneuve with Dune. Anyway, they should just expand Director to 7/8. Greta and Celine would’ve been nominated for sure.
I’m just Ken isn’t a stupid song, it’s one of the highlights of the movie. The lyrics are fun, the whole sequence is a delight and a testimony of Ryan and Greta’s talent. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that Annette Bening was nominated for Nyad when we all believed that fifth spot belonged to Margot Robbie. Unfortunately, comedy performances, especially if they were given by women, continue to be overshadowed.
Ryan, you are Kenough for me.
I know Oscar voters love big heavy movies. So, I expect Oppenheimer to sweep the awards.
But I am hoping if another grassroots campaign happens, they vote Barbie for Best Picture. At least Margot Robbie would get an Oscar as a Producer and just let Margot speak. I don’t know the rules. But if they can get Greta up on stage, to also say a few words. That would be at the least a disruptive F U to the Oscar patriarchy at play here.
And don’t you dare drown them out Orchestra!!!
Also, to add Greta is nominated for best adapted screenplay for Barbie. Of course it SHOULD be Director.
This is controversial here but I wasn’t a big fan of the movie. Thought it was a bit trite, but then I don’t often like the big mainstream movies that do well. I appreciate what Gerwig was trying to do – and no I could not do better – but it just seemed all over the place. I’m glad it did well so that more women centered films can have an opportunity to be made but… i don’t see the slight on Gerwig and Robbie. Robbie is a good actor but there was not much to do in her Barbie role. I loved goslings performance though and America Ferrera was good too.