Whoopie Goldberg assured that the Academy's decision to keep Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig away from the Oscars was not an insult or anything personal (EFE)
Whoopi GoldbergAn Oscar winner and veteran of the gala with four hosting gigs in addition to being on the Academy Council, has shared her perspective on the controversy that arose following the absence of Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie in the nominations for Best Director and Best Actressor at the 2024 Oscars.
The alleged snub of both characters has provoked all sorts of reactions on the networks, with a large part of the film's fans arguing that it was a theft and an example of the machismo that the film itself tries to denounce. During the show “The View”, which was broadcast by Entertainment Weekly, Goldberg answered his colleague's question Sarah Haines on when an absence from the nomination can be viewed as a deliberate omission or insult: “There are no snubs. This is something to keep in mind: Not everyone gets a prize, and that is subjective. Films are subjective. The movies you like may not be liked by the people who vote.”
“Not everyone gets a prize,” Goldberg said of the Barbie controversy (Portal/Lucas Jackson)
The fact that Gerwig and Robbie were nominated in their respective categories at other awards shows like the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards fueled expectations that their Oscar nominations would be a lock. In addition, Barbie's collection is of $1.4 billionthe highest value of 2023, together with criticism from critics, caused the surprise that it was excluded.
Ryan Gosling, who was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for “Barbie,” expressed his disappointment at the omission of Gerwig and Robbie. In the statement shared by People, the actor emphasized the importance of his collaborators' work and the film's impact on the culture and history of the industry.
“There is no Ken without Barbie and there is no “Barbie” film without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two main people responsible for this historic and globally acclaimed film. Without his talent, courage and genius, no one in film would be able to be recognized.”
Ryan Gosling, who plays Ken in “Barbie,” was the first to express his anger over Margot and Greta's absence from the Oscars.
On his part America Ferrerawho was nominated for best supporting actress for her role as Gloria in “Barbie,” called the situation “incredibly disappointing” and stressed that Gerwig deserved her groundbreaking performance and creating a global phenomenon from an idea she didn't originally have. She had real value to many.
America Ferrera, who plays Gloria in “Barbie,” also showed her support for Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie (Portal/Mario Anzuoni)
“Greta has done almost everything a director can do to deserve it. He created this world, he took something that had no inherent value to most people and turned it into a global phenomenon. It's disappointing not to see it on this list.“explained the actress.
Even former United States presidential candidate Hillary Clinton expressed her opinion on the issue, sending a message of support to Gerwig and Robbie, highlighting their box office success and the love of millions of followers that went beyond official recognition.
“Greta and Margot: Although it can hurt to win at the box office but not take home the gold, they are adored by millions of fans. They’re much more than ‘Ken-enough’.”
Even former United States presidential candidate Hillary Clinton revealed that she was not happy with the Academy's decision (Source: X/@HillaryClinton)
Despite the discussions about the nominations Barbie is still competing for the Oscar for Best Pictureand Greta Gerwig is also firmly positioned in the “Best Adapted Screenplay” category Noah Baumbach.