The surprising collaboration between Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie in 2023 resulted in the massive success of Barbie at the box office. The film grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide and emerged as the top contender against the highly anticipated Oppenheimer, a documentary about the father of the atomic bomb. Barbie surpassed Oppenheimer both domestically and internationally, solidifying its position as the year's biggest box office success.

Following such a successful run, many anticipated that Gerwig's film would dominate the awards season. However, the Oscar nominations did not reflect this expectation, leaving Barbie fans, including Hillary Clinton, shocked and disappointed.

The film received eight nominations, trailing behind Christopher Nolan's biographical thriller and other films such as Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon.

The snubs in two significant categories, Best Actress and Best Director, have generated backlash on social media. Margot Robbie, who portrayed a key role in the film, was overlooked for a Best Actress nomination. Furthermore, Greta Gerwig, the highest-grossing female director of all time, did not receive recognition in the Best Director category.

Politician Hillary Clinton took to social media to show support for Gerwig and Robbie, praising their accomplishments and expressing disappointment in the Academy's decision.

Ryan Gosling, who played the main male character Ken in Barbie, also expressed his disapproval of the snubs. Gosling emphasized that Barbie and Ken are inseparable, and the film would not exist without the contributions of Gerwig and Robbie. He expressed his delight at his own nomination but questioned the exclusion of his co-stars. America Ferrera, another cast member of Barbie, also expressed her disappointment with the Oscar snubs.

Despite the disappointments, Ferrera received an Oscar nomination for her supporting role in the film.