Ryan Gosling has released a statement expressing his disappointment over Barbie director Greta Gerwig and co-star Margot Robbie not receiving Oscar nominations.
Gosling, who played Ken in Barbie, accounted for eight of Barbie’s nominations. The film is also up for Best Picture, while America Ferrera is nominated for Best Supporting Actress. However, Gerwig and Robbie — the two chief creative forces behind the film — failed to receive individual nominations: Gerwig was shut out of the best director category, while Robbie did not receive a nomination for best actress.
In a statement addressing his own nomination, Gosling used most of his words to express his disappointment over Gerwig and Robbie’s snubbing. “But 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,” Gosling wrote.
“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. Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees.”
Robbie and Gerwig can still walk away with Oscar gold as producers if Barbie happens to win Best Picture. Gerwig and partner Noah Bambach are also up for Best Adapted Screenplay.
See more of this year’s Oscars snubs here.