Actor Ryan Gosling has expressed disappointment over the Oscars’ decision to snub Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, key figures in the acclaimed film ‘Barbie’, from major nomination categories.
Gosling, honoured with a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Ken in the movie, conveyed his disappointment, highlighting the integral contributions of Gerwig and Robbie.
Gosling acknowledged his nomination and emphasised the collaborative nature of the film, stating, “But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie.” Many anticipated nominations for Gerwig in the best director category and Robbie for best actress, given their significant roles in the film’s success.
The Barbie film, which became the highest-grossing movie of 2023 with $1.44 billion worldwide, received a total of eight nominations, including Best Picture. However, Gerwig and Robbie were recognised in other categories – Robbie as a producer in the best picture lineup, and Gerwig alongside her husband Noah Baumbach for Best Adapted Screenplay.
In a statement to CBS, Gosling expressed his honour at the nomination and described Gerwig and Robbie as the “two people most responsible for this history making, globally celebrated film.” He lamented their absence in the major categories, stating, “To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”
Despite the disappointment, Gosling expressed happiness for America Ferrera, who received a surprise nomination for best supporting actress, and other contributors to the groundbreaking film. Ferrera also voiced her disappointment in Gerwig and Robbie not being recognised in major categories.
The Oscar snub has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some fans expressing dismay over the exclusion of Gerwig and Robbie, while Gosling received a nomination. Others argued that the nominations align with the Academy’s typical choices, and some attributed Robbie’s absence to the Academy’s historical tendency to overlooking comedic performances.
As the Oscars approaches, the controversy surrounding ‘Barbie’ and its notable omissions has added an intriguing layer to the discussions around this year’s nominations