'So Proud Of My Man': Eva Mendes Trounces 'Barbie' Haters After Ryan Gosling Oscar Nod

Eva Mendes is standing by Ryan Gosling , whose turn as Ken proved critics wrong.

Greta Gerwig s Barbie (2023) made box office history last year, but was initially mocked as too twee a project for Gosling whose first look was met with ridicule. His performance has since been nominated for an Oscar , spurring his longtime partner to speak out.

So proud of my man, Mendes wrote Wednesday on Instagram . So much hate when he took on this role. So many people trying to shame him for doing it.

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 the Oscars , she continued about Goslings nod for Best Supporting Actor.

Mendes even shared parts of an article partially titled, Ryan Gosling Is Giving Major Cringe as Ken in Barbie, which likened him to one of those creepy, older West Hollywood men who still think theyre in their 20s. While presumably tongue in cheek, it was no anomaly .

Some saw Barbie as a cash-grab of Mattels famous doll line or an earnest failure in tackling corporate influence . Others deemed it a zippy clarion call for feminism that turned its star and producer Margot Robbie and Gerwig into role models for women.

While both Robbie and Gerwig received respective Oscar nods for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, fans couldnt help but notice that this women-led phenomenon left them out of the Best Actor and Best Director categories and nominated Gosling.

Ken himself reacted to those arguable snubs in a statement of solidarity Wednesday.

I am extremely honored to be nominated But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, Gosling told several media outlets , the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.

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

While America Ferrera publicly agreed (and received a Best Supporting Actress nod), not everyone feels the same . Gosling, meanwhile whose performance in the film of Im Just Ken spurred a Best Original Song nod for writer Mark Ronson has arguably already won.

So beyond proud to be this Kens Barbie, wrote Mendes in her post.