Eva Mendes fiercely defends Ryan Gosling over ‘hate’ for Ken role in Barbie

Ryan Gosling’s partner Eva Mendes was thrilled with his Oscar nomination (Picture: Warner Bros/Getty)

Eva Mendes has come out all guns blazing for her partner Ryan Gosling, in defence of ‘hate’ he has received for playing Ken in the Barbie movie.

In a rare in-depth comment from the actress, who has been in a relationship with the star for more than 12 years, she shared her pride over his performance – which has now been recognised in an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor by the Academy.

‘So proud of my man. So much hate when he took on this role. So many people trying to shame him for doing it,’ she began her post on Instagram, alongside comments in the press about his appearance giving ‘full cringe’ and ‘nightmares’ when a first picture of him Barbie’s favourite accessory was unveiled.

The Place Beyond the Pines star, 49, continued: ‘Despite all the #Notmyken ridicule and articles written about him, he created this completely original, hilarious, heartbreaking, now iconic character and took it all the way to Oscars.’

‘So beyond proud to be this Ken’s Barbie 💕,’ she signed off.

Director Oliver Stone had been one of those railing against 43-year-old Gosling’s role, calling it ‘ridiculous’ and ‘a waste of time’ when he ‘should be doing more serious films’ in recently resurfaced comments.

The star played Ken in Barbie, opposite Margot Robbie (Picture: Warner Bros)

Mendes referenced hate he’d received for the role as she celebrated her other half’s ‘completely original, hilarious, heartbreaking, now iconic character’ (Picture: Dave Allocca/Starpix/Shutterstock)

He continued to City AM in an interview published in June 2023: ‘He shouldn’t be a part of this infantilisation of Hollywood. Now it’s all fantasy, fantasy, fantasy, including all the war pictures: fantasy, fantasy.’

However, he rowed back on his criticism earlier this week, as he issued an apology and admitted he’d spoken out without knowing anything of the film beyond its title.

‘I was able to see Barbie in a theatre back in July and appreciated the film for its originality and its themes. I found the filmmakers’ approach certainly different than what I expected. I apologise for speaking ignorantly,’ he confessed on X.

Director Oliver Stone had previously blasted Gosling playing Ken as ‘a waste of time’ (Picture: Ettore Ferrari/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

‘Greta Gerwig’s 2017 film Lady Bird was one of my favorites of that year. Barbie’s box office greatly boosted the morale of our business, which was welcome. I wish Greta and the entire Barbie team good fortune at the Oscars.’

Gosling’s co-star America Ferrera, who nabbed a surprise supporting actress Oscar nomination, also echoed Mendes’ praise in the comments.

‘👏👏👏 He is brilliant as Ken! Pulled off a triple somersault performance!’ she enthused.

‘We’re so lucky it was him and I’m so grateful for the way he showed up with his super stardom, and continues to show up to support all the women in this process!!’

The Ugly Better star also called him ‘a class act and insanely deserving and talented’.

Although Barbie got eight Oscar nods, including best film, Robbie and director Greta Gerwig were left out of their respective categories (Picture: Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Other fans flocked to leave their praise of Gosling in the comments too, with Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham writing: ‘This post is everything. Hear, Hear! X’

‘He was incredible in it, an absolute standout and so deserving in his nom. Beautifully articulated statement too. Go Ryan! ❤️’ chimed in A Discovery of Witches star Teresa Palmer, who stars with him in The Fall Guy later this year.

‘That was such a hard role to pull off! And he did so with flying colors and made it so much fun AND endearing,’ enthused Padma Lakshmi. ‘I walked out of the theatre with my daughter and immediately said ‘he should get an Oscar nod for this’. I’m so glad he did. What he did, without ego, is pure genius. 👏👏👏🙌🙌’

This comes after the actor shared that he was very disappointed that Barbie’s helmer Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie were snubbed in their respective categories by the Academy – although Barbie still managed an impressive eight nods, including best film.

America Ferrara also praised Gosling as a castmate and actor (Picture: Getty)

Barbie has grossed over $1.44billion (£1.13bn) at the box office, a huge success for producer Robbie and Gerwig, the first female director to helm a movie past $1bn (Picture: Getty)

‘I am extremely honoured to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought I’d be saying this, but I’m also incredibly honoured and proud that it’s for portraying a plastic doll named Ken,’ the La La Land star had begun his statement.

‘But 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,’ he argued.

‘No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius. To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.’

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‘So beyond proud to be this Ken’s Barbie.’