Ryan Gosling has spoken out about his disappointment that Barbie director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie were not nominated in two major Oscar categories, despite receiving a nod himself.
The actor, who on Tuesday was nominated for his supporting role as Ken in the box office juggernaut, described it as an “understatement” to say he was “disappointed” that Gerwig and Robbie were not nominated in their respective categories.
“Their work should be recognised along with the other very deserving nominees,” he added.
Gerwig was not nominated for best director, but was named alongside her husband, Noah Baumbach, for best adapted screenplay while Robbie lost out on a best actress nomination but was recognised for best picture as a producer.
Gosling said he was “so happy” for co-star America Ferrera who was nominated for best supporting actress for her performance as Gloria in the film.
In an interview with Variety, Ferrera said she was “incredibly disappointed” that Robbie and Gerwig had failed to be nominated in the best actress and best director categories.
“What Margot achieved as an actress is truly unbelievable,” she said, adding that Gerwig had done “just about everything that a director could do to deserve it”.
In his statement, shared with US media outlets, Gosling said he was “honoured to be nominated” and proud that it was for “portraying a plastic doll named Ken.”
“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
“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.”
Gosling’s statement came after British record producer Mark Ronson also championed the pair for putting Barbie together, after he and Andrew Wyatt received an Oscar nomination for best original song for their power ballad I’m Just Ken.
“There is no ‘just Ken, it’s Barbie AND Ken,” Ronson said, adding that Robbie had “put this whole damn thing together.”
Ronson also praised Gerwig for bringing “people back to the movies in droves while doing so.”
The Academy Awards ceremony will take place on 10 March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
