Ryan Gosling Nailed His Oscars Performance, But We Were Promised Shirtless Kens

The kenergy was high despite the noticeable lack of pecs.

When news broke that Ryan Gosling would be performing the beloved power ballad, "I'm Just Ken," at the Oscars this year, Barbie fans rejoiced — the earworm from the 2023 blockbuster has been an instant sentimental hit ever since it first hit the airwaves, after all. And when he took the stage, Gosling didn't disappoint — except for one glaring omission.

Gosling started the number from the audience, where he sat behind his co-star Margot Robbie in a black cowboy hat, singing the opening lines, "Doesn't seem to matter what I do. I'm always number two."

The actor (and probable karaoke star) took to the stage in a bedazzled pink suit, where he was helped up the stairs by his collaborator and the song composer Mark Ronson. Once on stage he was joined by upwards of 50 different Kens who performed a number containing partial choreography from the film. It was just the sort of spectacle we were hoping for, except that, unfortunately, these Kens were fully clothed.

Earlier on E! , a host revealed that Gosling will be hitting the stage alongside “75 shirtless Kens." Sadly, that turned out not to be the case.

The performance was still the absolute highlight of the night. As Gosling belted out the '80s power ballad, he was lifted into the air while fatheads of the original Barbie doll were shown from an overhead shot. He was then joined on stage by his fellow Kens and co-stars from the Oscar-nominated film, including Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, and Ncuti Gatwa. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash rocked out along with Gosling, as well.

Related: Ryan Gosling Just Gave a Swoon-Worthy Shoutout to "Girl of My Dreams" Eva Mendes

Perhaps the best part of the performance, however, is when Gosling runs into the audience to get some help from his friends. He came across co-stars Margot Robbie and America Ferrera, as well as director Greta Gerwig, to whom he held up the microphone while they sang. He then found his La La Land co-star Emma Stone, who also sang along with her former duet partner. By the end of the number, the entire audience was on their feet.

Speaking to Variety in February, Gosling said that — at the time — the Academy didn't ask him to hit the stage, which made many people wonder exactly how the song would have its moment in the spotlight and offer a bit of levity during the notoriously long broadcast.

“It might be too much of a risk to have me do it,” Gosling said. “I don’t know how that would work. But I’m open to it.” Historically, the songs up for Best Original Song are performed at the Oscars, but starting in 2019, that tradition changed to keep the show under a three-hour limit.

Mark Ronson, who co-wrote the song for Barbie, added that the idea of him performing in Gosling's place had been floated around but that he wasn't having it. "No. I think if Ryan doesn’t do it, then we’re not doing it," he said at the 2024 Grammy Awards, saying that it was his dream to have Ken himself perform at the Oscars.

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