America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling, who play supporting roles in the blockbuster film ‘Barbie’, have publicly criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for not nominating their director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie for the 96th annual Oscars.
The film, which is based on the iconic doll, received eight nominations, including Best Picture, but was overlooked in the Best Director and Best Actress categories.
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a subsidiary of CNN’s parent company, the movie is a fantasy comedy film that follows the adventures of Barbie, a doll who journeys out of ‘Barbieland’ when faced with imperfections, and Ken, her self-absorbed male counterpart, as they explore the real world and finally learn to accept themselves and others.
The film is a satire on the Barbie franchise and the beauty standards it represents, and also a celebration of female empowerment and diversity.
It became a viral topic as soon as its trailer dropped, grossing over $1 billion at the box office upon release and breaking records for the highest-grossing comedy film of all time and the highest-grossing film directed by a woman.
However, despite the film’s success, the Academy failed to recognize Gerwig and Robbie for their outstanding contributions to the film.
Greta Gerwig was widely expected to receive a nomination for best director but was snubbed for the second time in her career, after being overlooked for her 2017 film ‘Lady Bird’. Margot, the actress who played Barbie, was also ignored.
Ryan Gosling was among the first to speak out against the snubs, issuing a statement in which he expressed his honor for being nominated, but also his disappointment and frustration for Gerwig and Robbie being left out.
He praised them as the “two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film” and said that their work “should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees”. Ferrera also voiced her support for Gerwig and Robbie, saying that she was “incredibly disappointed” that they were not nominated.
While Gerwig and Robbie have not commented publicly on the snubs, Barbie is still in the running for the Oscars as nominees for best adapted screenplay and best picture. They have also received recognition from other awards shows, such as the Golden Globes, the Critics’ Choice Awards, and the BAFTAs.
