On June 15, American film company Warner Bros. revealed that actor Ryan Gosling would play Ken, Barbie’s boyfriend, in the upcoming Barbie movie, the first live-action film based on Mattel, Inc.’s fashion doll franchise.
The film will hit American cinemas in July 2023 and star Margot Robbie as Barbie, Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu as another Ken doll, and several other superstars.
Little is known about the movie’s plot yet, but so far, the Chinese internet seems to be focusing on one thing only: Ryan Gosling’s dubious styling for the role.
#BARBIE
July 21, 2023
Only in theaters. pic.twitter.com/DAemOyv5H8— Warner Bros. Pictures (@wbpictures) June 15, 2022
Following the character reveal, a hashtag related to the movie has gained more than 140 million views on the microblogging platform Weibo, with many discussing Gosling’s makeover for the role.
Chinese netizens have unanimously expressed their dislike of the platinum blonde hair, fake tan, jean vest, and customized underwear, deeming the look tacky and uncomfortable.
“He looks like he would kidnap Barbie,” reads a comment that’s been liked more than 11,500 times.
Another user wrote, “How come I feel like he looks more like a porn actor?”
Others have even said the 41-year-old Canadian actor could pass for “Barbie’s sugar daddy” instead of her boyfriend.
A Photoshopped image of Ryan Gosling as Ken, with his face replaced by Ellen DeGeneres’. Image via Weibo
Several netizens have joked about Gosling’s uncanny resemblance to American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. On this note, a Photoshopped picture planting DeGeneres’s face onto Gosling’s head has been circulating the internet.
Another user has pointed out that Gosling sports a haircut similar to middle-aged Chinese actress Zhang Kaili.
Actress Zhang Kaili. Image via Weibo
An ironic hashtag ‘Does Ryan Gosling Really Need Money?’ (#高司令很缺钱吗#) has amassed nearly 20 million views on Weibo, with netizens wondering why the actor has accepted such a tacky role.
However, there is no such thing as bad press, and the media buzz generated by Gosling’s styling has undoubtedly sparked interest in the upcoming Barbie movie.
Cover image via Twitter
