Hillary Clinton offers her support to “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig and leading actress Margot Robbie after they were rejected from the Oscars.
On Tuesday, the blockbuster film received a total of eight Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture. However, Robbie was not nominated for Best Actress and Greta Gerwig did not make it into the Best Director category.
The decision to omit the director and lead actor of last year's most popular film was widely criticized online, with the former secretary of state and presidential candidate also agreeing.
“Greta and Margot, it can be painful to win at the box office but not take home the gold, but your millions of fans love you.” Clinton posted on X Wednesday mornings. “You are both so much more than Kenough. #HillaryBarbie“
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Greta and Margot,
Even though it can be painful to win at the box office but not take home the gold, your millions of fans love you.
You are both so much more than Kenough.#HillaryBarbie
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 24, 2024
“Barbie” grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2023.
Robbie's co-star Ryan Gosling received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance as Ken, and America Ferrera also received a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
The two actors shared Clinton's sentiments in statements celebrating her nominations.
“It is a great honor to be nominated by my peers alongside such remarkable artists in a year with so many great films,” Gosling said in a statement. “And I never thought I would say this, but I also feel incredibly honored and proud that it is for the representation of a plastic doll named Ken. But there is no Ken without Barbie and there is no Barbie film without Greta Gerwig and Margot. Robbie, the two main people responsible for this historic and worldwide acclaimed film.
Ferrera said she was “stunned” and “moved” by her Oscar nomination. She echoed Gosling's statement, telling Variety that she was “incredibly disappointed” that Robbie and Gerwig didn't receive Oscar nominations.
On Wednesday, Gosling's longtime partner, actress Eva Mendes, celebrated his nomination on Instagram, despite initial criticism of his casting ahead of the film's release.
“So proud of my husband,” Mendes captioned screenshots of several negative articles. “So much hate when he took on this role. So many people tried to shame him for it. Despite all the #Notmyken ridicule and all the articles written about him, he created this completely original, hilarious, heartbreaking, now iconic character and took him all the way to the Oscars.”
“So proud to be that Barbie of Ken,” she added.
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