Small gestures from celebrities can stir up speculation. This happened to two Barbie stars, Simu Liu and Ryan Gosling, on the pink carpet for the film’s premiere in Toronto, Canada. After a day of people coming up with theories, the Shang-Chi star shut down the idea that he has beef with his fellow Ken.
What happened came in from a video of the two on the pink carpet (seen below). Standing side by side, Simu Liu put his arm around his Barbie co-star’s waist. We don’t hear what the La La Land star said, but the Kim’s Convenience star pulled away and said, “You don’t what – oh, it’s too tender? Fair enough.” Then they got back to taking press pictures in their snazzy outfits. People in the comments started taking this interaction the wrong way.
Simu Liu Responds to Ryan Gosling Beef Rumor After Incident on Barbie Pink Carpet
You asked for it! Here’s the full clip of Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu interacting on the #Barbie movie red carpet in Toronto 💕 The Kenmance is strong 💪 pic.twitter.com/D8uoWbCR0P
— Etalk (@etalkCTV) July 26, 2023
In the age of social media, fan speculation can go to dark places. On his Instagram story, Simu Liu addressed the “beef” with Ryan Gosling at the Barbie premiere (seen below). With a picture of the two actors smiling at the premiere, he wrote to give love to his fellow Kenadian. He called the Blade Runner 2049 actor “the best human in every way.” He continued by noting his co-star’s humor and said that “when he jokes around with us on the carpet and on set,” he gives them a share of his “kenergy.”
“I’d beach off with this Kenadian again in a heartbeat. He is the best human in every way, especially when he jokes around with us on the carpet and on set, infecting all of us with his kenergy. Now let’s get back to the issues that matter, like supporting our striking actors and writers fighting for fair wages.”
Drama or no drama between Simu Liu and Ryan Gosling, Barbie has become a dominant force in the film industry. The film has become a phenomenon despite theater attendance being down post-2019 and striking workers in the industry. After successful marketing, an A-list cast, a beloved indie director, and the internet movement of Barbenheimer, it has reached a very successful launch. The film has seen positive reviews and word of mouth, leading to it breaking records and grossing over $400 million in a week.
