Barbie and the exclusion of Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie from the Oscars: the controversy

Among the many social comments, a post by the writer Charlotte Clymer went viral on X: «Let's see if I understand: the Academy has nominated Barbie for best film (eight nominations in total) – a film about women who are sidelined and made invisible in patriarchal structures – but not the woman who directed the film. OK then”. One billion in receipts worldwide and the record for the most watched film in the summer globally were not enough: neither the director Greta Gerwig nor the interpreter Margot Robbie were nominated for the Oscar 2024 in the categories of best director and best leading actress for Barbie. Gerwig received a nomination as a screenwriter along with her husband Noah Baumbach and her Robbie as a producer for the best picture category. Also nominated were Ryan Gosling, Barbie's Ken, and America Ferrera, as supporting actress. But the exclusion of the two women who brought the world's most famous doll to the top of the box office created an uproar.

Ryan Gosling was the first to speak: «There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no film about Barbie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this historic and world-celebrated film. No recognition would be possible for anyone who took part in the film without their talent, their grit and their genius.” And again: «To say that I am disappointed that they were not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement. Their work should be recognized alongside the other very deserving candidates.”

Is this a case of sexism? For many, yes. “We're actually doing the patriarchy very well,” writes the American writer Jodi Lipper in an Instagram story, quoting a line from the film. The case also causes discussion due to the implicit irony of the story: a film that talks about feminism and denounces patriarchy marginalizes two women. Even Hillary Clinton took the stand with a message to Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie: “You are both so much more than Kenough.” America Ferrera, nominated for best supporting actress for Barbie, added to the chorus of controversy: «Greta did everything a director could do to deserve it. Creating this world, and taking something that had no intrinsic value to most people and making it a global phenomenon. It's disappointing not to see her on that list.”

It's nothing new, to be honest: the Oscars have a long list of female directors excluded from nomination or victory. In the history of the Academy Awards only three women have won: Kathryn Bigelow, Chloé Zhao and Jane Campion.