Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hinted at her own presidential snub in a message for Barbie director Greta Gerwig and actor Margot Robbie after the film failed to secure Best Director and Best Actress Academy Award nominations.
Though Barbie was nominated for eight Oscars, the absence of nominations for Robbie and Gerwig cast a shadow over the film's recognition.
Gerwig, who received her first Oscar nomination for directing in 2017 with Lady Bird, had high expectations for a second nod.
Considered a frontrunner after earning acclaim from the Critics Choice, Golden Globes, and Directors Guild of America Awards—key precursors to the Oscars—she fell short of securing a spot among this year's directing nominees though she did receive a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Although Robbie earned a Best Picture nomination as a producer for Barbie, her absence from the acting nods surprised many inside and outside of Hollywood.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Clinton wrote:
"Greta & Margot, While it can sting to win the box office but not take home the gold, your millions of fans love you. You’re both so much more than Kenough. #HillaryBarbie"
You can see her post below.
Many echoed Clinton's sentiments.
Though Robbie did not get an acting nomination—a stunner for the lead in a movie that earned more than $1 billion at the global box office—her co-stars America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling did in their respective supporting categories.
Ferrera conveyed her disappointment, especially for Gerwig, praising her efforts in creating a "global phenomenon" from a concept that didn't initially resonate widely. She added that what Robbie "achieved as an actress is truly unbelievable" and that she "brings so much heart and humor and depth and joy and fun to the character."
In a statement, Gosling said that while he is "extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films," there is nonetheless "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."
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