Was 'Barbie' Really Snubbed by the Oscars?

With the nominations now announced for the 96th annual Academy Awards, a host of celebrities have weighed in on summer hit Barbie missing out on nods for its titular star Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig.

Shortly after actors Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid announced the Oscar nominees from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, social media was alight with debate about what was seen in two major omissions in Robbie and Gerwig.

Barbie was nominated in eight categories, including Best Costume, Best Production Design, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and two for Best Original Song ("I'm Just Ken," performed by Barbie co-star Ryan Gosling and Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?").

America Ferrera, who stars as Gloria, received a Best Supporting Actress nod, while Gosling was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his efforts as Ken.

While there was much to celebrate over the Oscar nods, Gosling said in a statement that while he was "extremely honored to be nominated," he described Robbie and Gerwig "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 added. "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," he went on. "Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees."

Gosling added that he was "so happy" for Ferrera, as well as the other "incredible artists who contributed their talents to making this such a groundbreaking film."

The Canadian actor is certainly not alone in his assessment, as people flocked to social media to share their thoughts on whether Barbie had essentially been snubbed.

Yes, It Was Snubbed

Joining Gosling in expressing their disappointment at Margot—who also produced the movie—and Gerwig missing out on nods was singer and actor Bette Midler.

"This one goes out to Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie who crafted a film that was both a critical success and a cultural phenomenon, delving into feminist themes through the lens of Barbie and challenging patriarchal norms," read a post shared by Midler on X, formerly Twitter.

"This movie not only resonated deeply but also grossed a billion dollars. Yet, in a twist of irony, it was Ken who received the Oscar nomination. Everyone go re-watch Barbie tonight."

Returning to the micro-blogging platform several hours later, Midler clarified that the "very eloquent tweet I posted came from @JohnStamos, in real life, not in a post. I loved it. Thought it said EXACTLY what needed to be said, and posted it but it wasn't mine. Too good not to be out in the world."

Indeed, Full House star Stamos made the comments in a caption posted to Instagram as he shared a clip of himself and his wife, Caitlin McHugh, playfully reenacting a scene from Barbie.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King also counted herself among those who was unimpressed with how the Oscar nominations fell for Barbie.

"Really upset about #Barbie being snubbed, especially in the Best Director category," she wrote on X. "The movie is absolutely brilliant, and Greta Gerwig is a genius."

Simu Lu, who played one of the Kens in Barbie, said that Robbie and Gerwig "deserve everything" as he shared gushing words about them.

"Being involved in a small way gave me a window into just how hard Greta and Margot had to fight to get Barbie made, and how flawlessly they executed," he said. "Together they started a movement, touched the world and reinvigorated the cinema. They deserve everything. They ARE everything."

While there were a number of celebrities and film fans who opposed the academy's decision not to nominate Robbie and Gerwig, several others felt otherwise.

No, It Wasn't Snubbed

Journalist and author Marianne Eloise took to X to share her belief that Barbie was not deserving of the eight nominations it received on Tuesday.

She added that people outraged at the film's star and director not being nominated are "being insane."

"This Barbie thing is actually like some kind of mass hysteria/psychosis," she opined. "It was nominated for eight Oscars. It shouldn't have been. Many well-deserving women were nominated. You are being insane."

Continuing her thoughts on the matter, Eloise added that "it's like people have wound each other up into believing that it was a) nominated for nothing and b) that someone showed up to Greta Gerwig's house and stole her millions at gunpoint[.] It was a fun toy (and car!) commercial that Ryan Gosling ate up. You'll be fine."

Vox senior correspondent Alex Abad-Santos also weighed in on fans' reactions, writing: "Barbie marketing has done such a good job of positioning the movie and its themes that certain people earnestly believe that Margot Robbie not getting an acting nomination is a heinous example of misogyny and [a] slight against feminism."

"Margot Robbie's performance was forgettable, Ryan Gosling's was not," read a post from popular meme account @MostlyPeacefull.

"Margot Robbie's performance wasn't Oscar worthy and it's disrespectful to great actresses to pretend like it is," read a follow-up post on the account.

Barbie is based on the eponymous dolls from Mattel. Starring Robbie as the titular character and Gosling as Ken, the pair go on a journey of self-discovery following Barbie's existential crisis.

The film provided audiences with a comedic yet insightful critique of the patriarchy, and also had an underlying message about the contradictions of womanhood.

Barbie, which Gerwig previously called "most certainly a feminist film," became a huge talking point in the lead-up to its release and has continued to have a strong cultural impact. It was the highest-grossing film of 2023 and also won the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.

As of press time, Barbie's global box office haul stands at $1.4 billion.