Hillary Clinton has offered her support to Barbie director Greta Gerwig and lead star Margot Robbie after they were overlooked during the Oscars nominations in their respective categories.
The hit movie received eight nominations including for best picture, but many were stunned when Gerwig and Robbie, who together brought the doll to life, missed out.
The former US secretary of state addressed both on social media, saying: “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.”
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However, the 2016 presidential candidate was criticised by her followers who advised her to focus her attention on global issues, particularly the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Mrs Clinton’s post comes after Ryan Gosling, who played the role of Ken in the blockbuster and was nominated for best supporting actor, expressed his disappointment that his colleagues were snubbed.
Despite being “honoured” for his nomination, Gosling said: “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.”
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America Ferrera, who plays a Mattel employee Gloria in the film, was nominated for best actress in a supporting role. She was also “incredibly disappointed” not to see Gerwig and Robbie considered.
Barbie was the highest grossing movie of 2023 bringing in more than $1.4bn (£1.135bn), topping Oppenheimer which fell short of a billion but led the Oscars pack with 13 nods.
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Dark comedy Poor Things was runner-up with 11 nominations, with Martin Scorsese’s historical drama Killers Of The Flower Moon notching 10.
The Oscars will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on 10 March, airing overnight into 11 March in the UK.