During a recent interview on Today, Michelle Yeoh expressed her disappointment regarding this year’s Academy Awards, pointing out to the absence of ‘Barbie’ filmmakers from key categories.
During the conversation, Yeoh revealed her reaction to ‘Barbie’s Oscars nominations, saying:
“You do think: how do you get nominated for best picture but not best director? But it happens. And I’m sorry it happened to them because it’s obviously one of the most successful and beloved movies. Look at the box office.”
You can watch the rest of the interview below.
Why Did ‘Barbie’s Oscar Nominations Create Controversy?
Last year, Yeoh made history by becoming the first woman of Chinese descent and the first Malaysian to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. Her triumph in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ which also marked several firsts in the Oscars’ history, was a highlight of the 2023 awards season.
The film also became the first science-fiction movie to win Best Picture and secured wins in five of the top six Academy Awards categories.
The controversy this year revolves around the 2024 Academy Award nominations, which surprisingly excluded ‘Barbie’ director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie from the Best Director and Best Actress categories. Despite the film’s commercial success and critical acclaim, these results led to an outcry within the industry.
Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera, both Oscar nominees for their roles in ‘Barbie,’ also expressed their disappointment over this decision. Ferrera described it as ‘incredibly disappointing,’ while Gosling said ‘disappointment’ would be an understatement.
The discussion extended beyond the film industry, with Hillary Clinton and Whoopi Goldberg weighing in. Goldberg, on ‘The View,’ attempted to quell the backlash by stating that ‘snubs’ are a misnomer in cinema.
‘Barbie’ Received Eight Nominations
‘Barbie’ emerged as a cultural phenomenon in 2023. It grossed $1.44 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year and earning a place among the top 10 films of 2023 by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.
Despite the debates, ‘Barbie’ did not go unrecognized, securing eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. The film also made a significant impact at the Golden Globes, the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, and the British Academy Film Awards.
The 96th Academy Awards is scheduled for March 10, 2024, with ‘Oppenheimer’ leading the nominations, followed by ‘Poor Things’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’ Meanwhile, Yeoh has several upcoming projects, like ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice‘ and the ‘Avatar‘ sequels.
