Reactions to Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie being snubbed in the Oscars 2024 nominations

When the 96th annual Oscar nominations were revealed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday morning, Barbie’s Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie were dealt surprising omissions in the best director and best actress categories, respectively.

Adding insult to injury to the already under-fire Academy , Ryan Gosling received a nod in the best supporting actor category for his portrayal of Ken, the patriarchy-obsessed sidekick in the blockbuster of the year.

The world reacts to Barbie shock...

It’s fair to say that the majority of people were not happy to see the film overlooked by the Academy, proving once again how difficult it is not only for women to succeed in society, but be seen at all. Social media was, as it often is, a fire pit full of claws and horns and angry, red eyes.

“It’s still so easy for Hollywood to overlook and discount artistic contributions of women - EVEN WHEN ITS THE POINT OF THE YEAR’S BIGGEST MOVIE!” said Jennifer Palmieri, director of communications in the Obama White House. “My God. It was nominated for best picture. Didn’t direct itself, friends!”

Ryan Gosling’s statement

The messages of awe and disappointment did not, however, solely come from the outside, with Ryan Gosling, who was nominated, quick to bash out a statement in which he said he was “extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films”, before adding that “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... Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees.”

Nominee Ferrera shows support for Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie

America Ferrera, nominated for best supporting actress, was the only other member of the cast of Barbie to receive an Academy Award acting nomination on Tuesday.

“I still haven’t really been able to get in my feelings because I’m still on like the top layer of ‘I can’t even believe that this is real,’” she Variety, while adding that she was ”incredibly disappointed that [Gerwig & Robbie] weren’t nominated.”

“Greta has done just about everything that a director could do to deserve it. Creating this world, and taking something that didn’t have inherent value to most people and making it a global phenomenon. It feels disappointing to not see her on that list.”

As for Robbie, Ferrera said that “perhaps people got fooled into thinking that the work seems easy, but Margot is a magician as an actress in front of the screen, and it was one of the honors of my career to get to witness her pull off the amazing performance she did. She brings so much heart and humor and depth and joy and fun to the character. In my book, she’s a master.”

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