'Barbie' Oscars Nomination Snubs Spark Uproar

The internet has been sent into a meltdown after Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig were not nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress and Best Director for Barbie.

The 2023 film directed by Gerwig is based on the eponymous dolls from Mattel. Starring Robbie as the title character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the pair go on a journey of self-discovery following Barbie's existential crisis. Barbie 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.

On Tuesday actors Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid announced the Oscar nominees from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California. Barbie was nominated in eight categories, including Best Costume and Best Production Design.

However, people are shocked and appalled that Robbie isn't in with a chance of winning an Oscar for her role, nor Gerwig for her highly-regarded directing. People have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to vent their frustration over the two women being snubbed.

Newsweek contacted spokespeople for Robbie and Gerwig for comment via email Tuesday.

"MARGOT ROBBIE YOU DESERVED BETTER THAN THIS," one person posted.

"I'm unapologetically Team-Barbie. What Margot Robbie did in that movie was way harder than she made it look like. She deserved a spot," said another.

"Greta Gerwig not getting nominated for Best Director is insane," a different X user wrote.

A fourth added: "literally where is greta gerwig."

Some people have said that Robbie and Gerwig not being nominated while Gosling was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Ken further proves the point of the film.

"Greta Gerwig was NOT nominated for best director for Barbie nor was Margot Robbie for best actress. AGAIN the Oscars snubs WOMEN!!!" one person wrote.

"Nominating Ryan Gosling and snubbing Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie is the best way for the Academy to completely prove the point of the film," a different X user posted.

A third person added: "ryan gosling & ken being nominated and winning awards over margot robbie, greta gerwig, & barbie is like actually an insane thing to happen considering what the f****** plot of barbie was."

While Gerwig wasn't recognized in the directing category, she was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, along with her husband and co-writer, Noah Baumbach.

Despite Robbie not clinching a nomination in the Best Actress category, Barbie received a nod for Best Picture, which means co-producer Robbie is still up for an Academy Award.

Castmate America Ferrara was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, thanks in part to a memorable monologue that was praised by viewers. She is set to face off against Oppenheimer's Emily Blunt, The Holdovers' Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Danielle Brooks for the Color Purple and Nyad's Jodie Foster.

The movie's signature ballad, "I'm Just Ken,"—performed by Gosling—was nominated for Best Original Song. However, one audience member clearly wasn't pleased with the choice, booing loudly.

The nominees for Best Director are Justin Triet (Anatomy of a Fall), Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon), Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things) and Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest).

In the Best Actress category are Annette Bening (Nyad), Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), Carey Mulligan (Maestro) and Emma Stone (Poor Things).

Update 1/23/24, 9:59 a.m. ET: This article was updated with extra information and background.