Snubbing ‘Barbie’: Why Losing Out on an Oscar Nod Is Like a Medieval Putdown
The much-discussed ‘snub’ of Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig is a term that stems from a Middle English word for a sharp rebuke that cuts someone off
Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie accepts the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement for “Barbie” at the 81st Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty Images)[/caption]
Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie at the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles, Jan. 7. PHOTO: RICH POLK/GETTY IMAGES
Every year, when the nominations for the Academy Awards are announced, we inevitably hear about “snubs.” This time around was no different: immediately after the 2024 Oscar nominations came out on Jan. 23, observers were buzzing about how neither director Greta Gerwig nor lead actress Margot Robbie were recognized for the summer blockbuster (and best-picture nominee) “Barbie.” The perceived snubs were compounded by the fact that Ryan Gosling got nominated for portraying Ken, a bitter irony given the film’s feminist message.
Not everyone is on board with the “snub” narrative surrounding “Barbie.” On the talk show “The View,” Sarah Haines mused, “When does it become a snub? I know the film, I know the greatness and the money, but that assumes someone else shouldn’t be in there.” Fellow panelist and Oscars veteran Whoopi Goldberg responded, “There are no snubs. That’s what you have to keep in mind. Not everybody gets a prize, and it is subjective.”
