Eva Mendes has defended her husband Ryan Gosling after he received an Academy Award nomination for his role as Ken in Barbie.
Mendes posted a gushing message from Gosling to her Instagram on Wednesday, describing how proud he was of the booing he endured leading up to Barbie’s release.
Gosling has since been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role, but controversially, lead actor Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig did not receive individual nods.
“So proud of my husband,” Eva posted on Instagram. “So much hate when he took on this role. So many people are trying to shame him for doing this. Despite all the #Notmyken mockery and articles written about him, he created this completely original, hilarious, heartbreaking, now iconic character and took it all the way to the Oscars. I’m so proud to be Ken’s Barbie.’
America Ferrera, Gosling’s Barbie co-star who was also nominated for an Oscar, called the actor a “class act” when commenting on Eva’s post.
Eva Mendes has defended her partner Ryan Gosling after he received an Academy Award nomination for his role as Ken in Barbie
‘He’s brilliant as Ken! Achieved a triple somersault performance! We are so lucky it was him and I am so grateful for the way he showed up with his super stardom, and continues to show up to support all women in this process!! He is a class act and insanely deserving and talented,” she wrote.
America is also in the running for an Oscar – she got a nod for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Gloria, a mother who helps save Barbie Land after Ken spreads the word of the patriarchy to the other dolls.
Eva and Ryan met on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011 and share two daughters, Esmeralda Amada, nine, and Amada Lee, eight.
The post came after Ryan released a statement expressing his disappointment after his co-star Margot and director Greta Gerwig were snubbed by the Oscars.
Ryan, 43, shared that the film wouldn’t exist without Margot, 33, and Greta, 40.
“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.
“No one in film would be recognized without their talent, perseverance and genius. To say I’m disappointed they weren’t nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.
“Their work should be recognized, along with the other very deserving nominees,” he stated.
A source told DailyMail.com that Ryan “believes his role was so well received because of the work (Margot and Greta) did that made his performance Oscar-worthy in the first place.”
Mendes shared that she was “so proud of my husband” as she recalled the “Not My Ken” mockery he endured in the lead-up to Barbie’s release
America Ferrera, Gosling’s Barbie co-star who was also nominated for an Oscar, called the actor a “class act” when she responded to Eva’s post
Gosling received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Ken
“He is ecstatic that he was honored, but it is bittersweet that his joy cannot be shared with Greta and Margot in the coming months because they have been rejected.”
The source added that the father-of-two will perform I’m Just Ken at the ceremony and “possibly process his feelings about Margot and Greta not being nominated.”
Ryan began his statement by expressing gratitude for his nomination. “I am deeply honored to be nominated by my peers alongside such remarkable artists in a year with so many great films.”
“And I never thought I’d say this, but I’m also incredibly honored and proud that it is for portraying a plastic doll named Ken,” he shared.
America is also in the running for an Oscar — she picked up a nod for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Gloria, a mother who helps save Barbie Land after Ken spreads the word of the patriarchy to the other dolls
Controversially, Margot, who played the title character Barbie, and director Greta Gerwig did not receive individual nods
The actor then expressed his disappointment that Margot and Greta were not nominated, before praising them for their work on the film.
“Against all odds, with nothing but a few soulless, scantily clad and thankfully crotchless dolls, they made us laugh, broke our hearts, galvanized culture and made history.”
Finally, he congratulated his other co-star America Ferrera, who received the nod for Best Supporting Actress. “That said, I’m so happy for America Ferrera and the other incredible artists who contributed their talents to make this such a groundbreaking film.”