In a 2023 interview with GQ, Ryan Gosling listed off a few “Ken-sentials.” He said that Barbie’s beau must always carry two pairs of sunglasses in his fanny pack. And whenever he pulls a Corey Hart by becoming the guy in shades, it’s for Barbie’s benefit. He explained that one pair of sunglasses must have mirrored lenses “so you can reflect Barbie’s greatness.” They also turn Ken into a living makeup mirror that allows Barbie to make sure that she never gets a speck of lipstick on her gleaming pearly whites. But Gosling didn’t wear mirrored aviators for his Academy Awards performance — he sported sunglasses with dark shades. “Dark ones are great because they can hide your sadness,” he shared. “You never wanna risk bumming Barbie out.” He also stated that the style must be one that suits Barbie in case she needs to borrow them.
So, what reason did Gosling have to be sad Ken on Oscar night? Well, “I’m Just Ken” was nominated for best original song and didn’t win, so maybe it made him feel like he wasn’t “Kenough.” It lost to the “Barbie” ballad “What Was I Made For?” The song, which was written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, is about Barbie’s journey of self-discovery. It’s a real heart-string tugger and might remind Ken of something dear that he lost, so it seems that Gosling stayed true to his character by making the right sunglasses choice.
