Barbie’s Oscar nomination for I’m Just Ken was booed when Academy Award nods were announced on Tuesday as Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig from the blockbuster were snubbed leading fans to slam the announcements for sexism.
The Oscar nominations for 2024 were announced by actors Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid from the academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California on Tuesday morning. Quaid, 31, did the nominations for Best Original Song and began with The Fire Inside written by Diane Warren for Flamin’ Hot which received a lengthy ovation by the crowd in attendance.
However, the son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan moved on to say I’m Just Ken from Barbie written by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt which received audible boos from the audience which could clearly be heard on the livestream. Ryan Gosling was the main performer in the number as another Barbie track was also nominated.
Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell landed a nod for What Was I Made For? and other nominees included It Never Went Away from American Symphony and Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People) from Killers of the Flower Moon. Regardless of the reaction Ronson and Wyatt were excited about the nod as they released a statement which read: ‘ We’re excited and grateful beyond words.
‘This really is the highest honour to be recognized by our peers and heroes from the Academy. And in a year of so many extraordinary songs – including those from our incredible fellow Barbie contributors. ‘It’s a testament to Greta Gerwig’s power to inspire and bring out the very best in everyone around her. Thank you so much.’
Meanwhile fury is mounting on social media after Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig were snubbed for Oscar nominations for their film Barbie as two most prominent women involved in last year’s billion-dollar blockbuster were notably left out. Greta failed to secure a nomination for best director this year, and Margot, who played the title character, was also passed over for best lead actress.
The omissions attracted extra attention on account of the fact that Ryan Gosling, who played Ken, did get nominated for best supporting actor. Some social media commentators leapt to point the finger at sexism – despite the fact America Ferrera was nominated for best supporting actress for the same film.
Ryan received nominations for Best Supporting Actor and his performance of I’m Just Ken in the film. ‘Ryan Gosling, while deserving, got an Oscar nomination for Barbie while Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie didn’t?’ wrote one outraged fan on X.
‘Completely proving the point of the movie in 20 f***ing 24 you cannot make this up,’ the social media user added, referring to the movie’s feminist themes. ‘Wait Ryan Gosling got nominated for his role as Ken, but Margot Robbie didn’t get nominated for Barbie?! And Greta got snubbed for Best Director?!?! Way to justify the literal plot of the movie,’ wrote another X user, echoing the theme.
A third groused: ‘If Ryan deserved a nom, then Margot certainly did, the fact she wouldn’t have won isn’t the point. It almost feels like the Academy deliberately played into the theme of the movie to get people talking. #Oscars haven’t been about who actually deserves it for a long time.’
Although Margot is not in the running for best lead actress, the movie itself is up for best picture, meaning she has in fact been nominated as a producer. Greta and her husband Noah Baumbach are also nominated jointly this year for having written the adapted screenplay of Barbie.