Can you feel the Kenergy?
Ryan Gosling’s rendition of Matchbox Twenty’s “Push” was, well, no match for his live rendition of “I’m Just Ken” at the 2024 Oscars.
Gosling, 43, joined Mark Ronson, 48, (who also produced Dua Lipa’s “Barbie” hit “Dance the Night”) onstage at the Dolby Theatre in LA on Sunday — with an epic surprise appearance by guitar legend Slash.
Dressed in a bedazzled Barbie pink suit, Gosling started his performance from the audience, behind Margot Robbie, who chuckled at his dramatics.
“Barbie” stars Simu Liu and Kingsley Ben-Adir reprised their Ken roles and danced in the sea of Gosling’s backup dancers.
“I’m Just Ken” already won a Critics Choice Award in January — where Gosling’s visibly confused reaction upon hearing the victory broke the internet.
Gosling’s performance was seemingly a recent request, as the actor told Variety last month that he still had “not been asked” to belt out the catchy tune.
“It might be too much of a risk to have me do it,” he said at the time. “I don’t know how that would work. But I’m open to it.”
His co-star Margot Robbie (who played Barbie) chimed in: “Don’t worry. We’re poking Ryan whenever we can: ‘Do it. Come on. It’ll be fun.’”
Gosling’s fellow Best Original Song nominees Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, Becky G, Jon Batiste, and Scott George and the Osage Singers also performed during the ABC broadcast.
“Barbie” was nominated in eight categories, including Best Picture and Gosling for Best Actor. Robbie, who also produced the film, and director Greta Gerwig were both snubbed in their respective categories.
Gosling addressed their snubs — twice.
“There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film,” his first statement read.
“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.”
But weeks later, the “Notebook” actor admitted that he “heavily edited” his thoughts in his initial address.
“I think if I say any more about it, I’m going to basically put on a mink and start challenging people to a beach-off on Malibu Beach,” he joked to Variety, referencing how Ken channels his aggression in the film.
He concluded, “In terms of people’s reactions, the film continues to provoke conversation in every incarnation. It keeps provoking this dialogue. It’s the power of this movie. I struggle to compare it to anything.”
Gerwig and Robbie, meanwhile, knew Gosling had to be their Ken.
“There was a question of his schedule, but I just knew it had to be him,” Gerwig told Variety. “I think at one point I told him that I’d seen the future, and that he was in it and he was Ken.”
“That made him laugh, but I think he also secretly saw the same future,” she said.
Robbie also relentlessly pushed for Gosling to agree to the history-breaking film, but said it wasn’t easy.
“He absolutely passed,” she told Variety about an early ask. “We just couldn’t let it happen. There was just no other version. Greta and I are both extremely determined and persistent people, otherwise, this movie never would have happened.”
She continued, “Every time he’s like, ‘I’m not doing this,’ we were like, ‘We are doing it, and it’s going to be fun.’”
“I promised him a present every day,” Robbie continued. “I said, ‘I’ll buy you a present every day if you come and do this movie.’ And so I did. I bought him a present every day and I’d leave it in his trailer, wrapped in pink and a bow tie and it said, ‘To Ken.’”
Alas, Gosling finally accepted his Oscar-nominated role.
“Eventually, I thought, ‘Who am I to argue with Greta Gerwig and Margot?’” he told the outlet. “They had a vision for it. They believed it. And they believed I should do it more than I believed I shouldn’t.”
“At a certain point, I thought, ‘They see something that I don’t see.’ I thought it was such a great part that anyone could play it. I understand now, but it took me a while.”
In 2022, Gosling revealed to Jimmy Fallon what ultimately got him to sign on.
“Best script I’ve ever read. I walk out in the backyard, and do you know where I found Ken, Jimmy? Face down in the mud next to a squished lemon,” he said of his daughters’ forgotten relic.
“I texted it to Greta, and I said, ‘I shall be your Ken, for his story must be told.’”
“Barbie” also stars Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu and Michael Cera.