By Ivan Sanchez
In 2023, Barbie became a cultural phenomenon, raking in a remarkable $162,022,044 domestically during its opening weekend and a staggering worldwide total of $1,445,638,421, as reported by Box Office Mojo. Despite its commercial success, the film fell short of receiving an Oscar, garnering eight nominations including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (America Ferrera), and Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling). Notably, Greta Gerwig (Director) and Margot Robbie (Barbie) were surprisingly omitted from the Oscar nominations, despite acclaim at other award shows.
Criticism over the Academy’s decision to exclude Gerwig and Robbie prompted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to share her sentiments on X (formerly Twitter): “Greta & Margot, while it can be disappointing to win at the box office but not take home the gold, your millions of fans love you. You’re both so much more than Kenough. #HillaryBarbie.”
The actors and actresses involved in Barbie also took to social media, with nominees Ferrera and Gosling celebrating their nominations while also taking time to honor Robbie and Gerwig.
“The Color Purple” faced a similar fate, securing only one nomination for supporting actress Danielle Brooks and experiencing a general snub from the Academy. In the Best Actor category, Colman Domingo earned a nod for his role in “Rustin,” and Jeffrey Wright received one for his role in “American Fiction.”
Examining historical Oscar nominations reveals a lack of diversity, with only seven women ever nominated for Best Director, and multiple nominations for women occurring only in 2020. Among acting categories, only 22 Black actors/actresses have won, primarily in Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor. Six Latinos and six Asian actors have claimed an acting Oscar.
Despite calls for diversity, the Oscars remain predominantly male, white, and heterosexual. Films like Barbie and The Color Purple, showcasing outstanding performances by women and Black actors, continue to be overlooked. Persistent calls for the Oscars to diversify the Academy have spanned decades, yet substantive change remains elusive.
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