I love when certain movies make you think or inspire fan theories that make you pause for consideration. The Barbie movie is the most recent movie to inspire fans on TikTok, Reddit, and the like to come up with their own theories. For instance, there is a theory going around that Will Ferrell’s character in Barbie is a reprise of Lord Business/The Man Upstairs, his character in The LEGO Movie. Another popular theory that’s making some waves online is that America Ferrera’s Gloria is the reason for Barbie’s lack of interest in Ken.
Since the release of “Barbie” last month, fans have hit social media with a grocery list of theories about the film’s nostalgia-inducing characters. One topic that fans were quick to analyze is Barbie’s complex relationship with Ken.
In the film, Ryan Gosling’s Ken character mulls over the fact that Barbie (Margot Robbie) doesn’t reciprocate his romantic feelings. His dejection prompts him to belt out the now-viral song (“I’m Just Ken”) about wanting to be seen and understood beyond his ties to Barbie.
In the end, Robbie’s Barbie never explains why she’s not interested in Ken romantically, but TikTok user callmeashbash has since dished out what she calls a “throwaway explanation” for why that could be.
Pointing to a part in the film where the character Gloria (America Ferrera) explains that she never played with Ken dolls growing up, the TikToker explained, “Barbie’s subconscious comes from Gloria. So, if Gloria didn’t feel like Barbie needed a Ken doll, then Barbie would feel like she didn’t need a Ken doll.”
As far as Internet fan theories go, that’s not a bad one. It would make sense with the overall arc that Barbie was picking up on Gloria’s feelings. If Gloria’s Barbie wasn’t into her Ken, then over in Barbieland, Stereotypical Barbie wouldn’t be into Beach Ken. To go one step further, Gloria’s husband (played by Ryan Piers Williams, Ferrera’s real life husband) was also a secondary character and it didn’t exactly seem like he was rocking Gloria’s world either. It’s not a big leap that Barbie’s general disinterest in Ken is inspired by Gloria.
On the other hand, the whole point of the movie is that Barbie is a woman whose identity, self-worth, and happiness does not rely on Ken at all, and she was created as such. Barbie, just like every single woman in the real world, doesn’t owe anyone an explanation as to why she isn’t into Ken or anyone else for that matter. Ken is Barbie’s accessory, and one of the lessons of the movie is that we are all “Kenough.” That’s “kenough” for me, but I am super interested in hearing any other Barbie theories that are out there!
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 09: Director/Writer/EP Greta Gerwig attends the World Premiere of “Barbie” at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on July 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.,Image: 788399692, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Greta Gerwig, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer / Avalon 
‘Barbie’ photocall at the Four Seasons Hotel. Featuring: Margot Robbie Where: Mexico City, Mexico When: 07 Jul 2023 Credit: Carlos Tischler/EyePix/INSTARimages 
Photocall for ‘Barbie’ after the premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square in London. Featuring: America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Margot Robbie, Issa Rae, Ryan Gosling and Greta Gerwig Where: London, United Kingdom When: 12 Jul 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**Photos credit: Avalon.red, Cover Images and via Instagram
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