Ryan Gosling reacts to Barbie Oscar snubs: 'There is no Ken without Barbie'

There is no just Ken. Actor Ryan Gosling, who was nominated for his role as Ken in last year’s biggest box-office blockbuster Barbie, questions Academy voters for Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s Oscar snubs in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 23).

The 43-year-old said that while he is grateful for his Oscar nomination, he expressed disappointment that co-star Robbie, who played Barbie, and director Gerwig were not recognised for best actress and best director, respectively.

“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,” he said.

“To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”

In the same statement, he also paid tribute to fellow co-star America Ferrera, who was nominated for best supporting actress.

While Robbie and Gerwig were omitted from their individual categories, they still received Oscar nominations. Robbie was nominated as a producer, alongside three others, for the best picture category while Gerwig landed one in the best adapted screenplay category, with her husband Noah Baumbach, who was a co-writer for Barbie. 

All together, Barbie received eight nominations in the 2024 Oscar. The other nods include two best original song nominations for I’m Just Ken and Billie Eilish's What Was I Made For?.

This is Gosling’s third Oscar nomination. He was previously nominated for best actor for his roles in Half Nelson and La La Land in 2007 and 2017, respectively.