Ken’s job is famously “beach,†but that title is changing very soon. Why on earth do we think that? Well, Variety just confirmed he will be taking his talents to the Dolby Theatre for a live performance of the Oscar-nominated smash “I’m Just Ken†at the awards show of award shows. Barbie fans, we’re happy for you. Or, if you’re a Barbie fan reeling from the Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie snubs, we’re sorry Ryan Gosling is the one most visually representing the film, despite the fact that there’s no Ken without Barbie and the Barbie director. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declined to comment on the performance, according to the outlet.
Though best-song nominees traditionally take the stage to perform renditions of their work, the possibility of a “Ken†performance seemed like but a dream. Especially since Gosling insisted the Academy never got him on the phone to confirm his participation in an interview last month. “I still have not been asked,†Gosling told Variety in an article published February 7. “It might be too much of a risk to have me do it. I don’t know how that would work. But I’m open to it.†And if he does get the call, Barbie co-star Margot Robbie isn’t above peer-pressuring him to do it, either. “We’re poking Ryan whenever we can: ‘Do it. Come on. It’ll be fun,’†she said, per Variety. And if Gosling declines the invitation to perform, producer Mark Ronson refuses to let the show go on without him. “I think if Ryan doesn’t do it then we’re not doing it,†he said on February 4.
Good thing he’s been manifesting Ken on the Oscars stage for over a month now. In an interview with W magazine for its annual Best Performances issue on January 3, Gosling turned a question about his go-to karaoke song into a moment to speak on a new job for his plastic himbo alter ego: “I don’t have one. I only sing at the Oscars … Oh no, wait, I don’t.†Gosling quipped that the interview was making him obsess over a potential performance. “I wasn’t thinking about it until now, and now it’s all I’m going to think about,†he told W. “Do you get paid to sing at the Oscars? Do you have to drive yourself? What kind of scratch is involved? They pick you up at least, right?†One small step for the Barbie movie, one giant leap for Ken’s empty résumé.
This post has been updated throughout.