The 96th Oscars nomination list has left Hollywood buzzing with disappointment as “Barbie,” the summer blockbuster that took the world by storm, surprisingly overlooked its leading actress Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig. The revelation has not only left co-star America Ferrera, who secured a nomination for best supporting actress, disheartened but has also ignited a wave of frustration among fans and fellow celebrities.

Ferrera, who portrayed Gloria in the female-led film, expressed her disappointment in an interview with Variety. She particularly highlighted Gerwig’s contributions, stating, “Greta has done just about everything that a director could do to deserve it, creating this world and making it a global phenomenon. It feels disappointing to not see her on that list.”

The absence of Robbie and Gerwig in the best actress and best director categories, respectively, raised eyebrows, with Ferrera praising Robbie’s acting prowess, saying, “What Margot achieved as an actress is truly unbelievable.” Ferrera emphasized the magician-like quality of Robbie’s performances and how her work made a significant impact on the success of “Barbie.”

Despite the snubs, “Barbie” garnered a total of eight Oscar nominations, including one for Ryan Gosling, who expressed his gratitude for the recognition. Gosling, nominated for best supporting actor, took the opportunity to acknowledge the integral role played by Gerwig and Robbie in the film’s success. He stated, “There is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film.”

Gosling continued by emphasizing the collaborative effort that made “Barbie” a groundbreaking film, expressing disappointment at the exclusion of Gerwig and Robbie in their respective categories. He credited their talent, grit, and genius for making the film possible and deserving of recognition.

Despite the oversight in the director category, Greta Gerwig secured a nomination for best adapted screenplay, while Margot Robbie, also a producer on the film, received a nomination for best picture.

“Barbie” made headlines in the summer of 2023, raking in over $1 billion at the box office and marking a historic milestone for Gerwig, who became the first female director in Warner Bros. history to achieve the billion-dollar mark.

The Oscar snubs follow Gerwig and Robbie’s nominations at the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards earlier this month. Robbie has also received nominations for the upcoming SAG Awards and the BAFTA Awards for her role in “Barbie.”

However, the disconnect between the film’s accomplishments and the lack of recognition at the Oscars has not gone unnoticed. Fans took to social media platforms, expressing their disdain for the snubs. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “To nominate Ryan and America and NOT the lead? NOT the director? Just a baffling decision all around.”

The 96th Oscars ceremony is scheduled to air on ABC on March 10. As the anticipation builds, the disappointment surrounding the “Barbie” snubs continues to dominate conversations within the entertainment industry. The absence of recognition for Gerwig and Robbie raises questions about the Oscars’ selection process and the criteria used to determine nominees in key categories.

Fans Reaction :

A fan on X wrote, “Ken (Ryan Gosling) getting nominated and not Barbie (Margot Robbie) is honestly so fitting for a film about a man discovering the power of patriarchy in the Real World.”

Another pointed out the irony and said, “All-female movie celebrating the triumph of feminists over toxic patriarchy: Guy playing the patriarch get Oscar Nomination, Female star and director get shut out, Patriarchy wins again! Thanks Barbie!”

“Greta Gerwig made a film that was critically acclaimed, culturally impactful, hilarious, unique, visually exceptional, perfectly cast and acted, left people laughing, crying and thinking and made a billion dollars at the box office. But no Best Director nom?! Barbie,” said another fan.

Ken over Barbie for Oscar?

Many expressed their disappointment with Margot Robbie getting snubbed in the Best Actress race. A fan said, “So Ryan Gosling’s nominated for playing ken but Margot Robbie isn’t nominated for playing barbie… in Barbie Oscars.”

Another wrote, “Ken being nominated for an Oscar and Barbie and her director are not really sums up the whole film.” A comment also read, “If Ryan deserved a nom, then Margot certainly did, the fact she wouldn’t have won isn’t the point. It almost feels like the Academy deliberately played into the theme of the movie to get people talking. Oscars haven’t been about who actually deserves it for a long time.”

Ryan Gosling, who got nominated in Best Actor in a Supporting Role, also expressed his disappointment with Greta Gerwig’s snub and said in a statement, “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. No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius. To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”