Ryan Gosling is "disappointed" Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig were snubbed in the 2024 Oscar nominations.
The 43-year-old actor is "extremely honored" to be in the running for Best Supporting Actor at the upcoming Academy Awards, but has hit out at the fact that his co-star failed to make the Best Actress shortlist and the 40-year-old filmmaker only received a Best Adapted Screenplay nod, missing out on a Best Director nomination.
He said in a statement: "I am extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought I'd be saying this, but I'm also incredibly honoured and proud that it's 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.
"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.
"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. Their work should be recognised along with the other very deserving nominees."
Ryan went on to praise America Ferrera, who is up for Best Supporting Actress, for her work on the film, which received a total of eight nods including Best Picture.
He concluded: "Having said that. I am so happy for America Ferrera and the other incredible artists who contributed their talents to making this such a groundbreaking film."
Mark Ronson, who is up for Best Original Song with writing partner Andrew Wyatt for I'm Just Ken from Barbie, admitted he felt the pair should have been recognised too.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: "Of course, I wanted Greta and Margot to be recognised for their incredible work as well. I mean, obviously, Greta is for screenplay and Margot for producing the film.
"But their spirit is in every single piece of [the movie], there's no way that Ryan, America, myself, there's no way that we would be doing the work that we did without their contribution anyway."