--- title: The Reason Behind Greta Gerwig's Barbie Oscar Snub: Theory description: Amid the outrage about Greta Gerwig being snubbed in the Best Director category, a new theory has emerged on the Internet. canonical: https://time.com/6576866/oscars-2024-greta-gerwig-snub-internet-fan-theory/ author: Armani Syed article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-01-24T11:30:46.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-01-19T10:50:56.000Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Internet's Theory About Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' Oscars Snub og:description: Amid the outrage about Greta Gerwig being snubbed in the Best Director category, a new theory has emerged online. og:url: https://time.com/6576866/oscars-2024-greta-gerwig-snub-internet-fan-theory/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltef7bf456f522b842/698a4422011682330e983d42/GettyImages-1537513223.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: "Barbie" European Premiere - VIP Access og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Internet's Theory About Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' Oscars Snub twitter:description: Amid the outrage about Greta Gerwig being snubbed in the Best Director category, a new theory has emerged online. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltef7bf456f522b842/698a4422011682330e983d42/GettyImages-1537513223.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Internet Has a Surprising Theory About Greta Gerwig's _Barbie_ Oscars Snub > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2024 Oscar Nominations [Watch (HLS stream): The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2024 Oscar Nominations](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/J14aN3To.m3u8) (13:20)  _Published 2024-01-23. The 2024 Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday morning and Oppenheimer led the day with 13 nods, including for Best Picture, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), and Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt). Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon followed close behind, with 11 and 10 nominations, respectively._  by [Armani Syed](https://time.com/author/armani-syed/)  ## Armani Syed Syed was a reporter for TIME, based in the London bureau. Updated: Jan 19, 2026 10:50 AM UTCPublished: Jan 24, 2024 11:30 AM UTC The 2024 Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday morning and Oppenheimer led the day with 13 nods, including for Best Picture, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), and Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt). Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon followed close behind, with 11 and 10 nominations, respectively.  by [Armani Syed](https://time.com/author/armani-syed/)  ## Armani Syed Syed was a reporter for TIME, based in the London bureau. Updated: Jan 19, 2026 10:50 AM UTCPublished: Jan 24, 2024 11:30 AM UTC Since the [2024 Academy Award nominations](https://time.com/6565196/oscar-nominations-2024-snubs-surprises/) were announced Tuesday, _Barbie_ fans have been quick to point out that the lack of nominations for director Greta Gerwig and titular actor Margot Robbie felt like an ironic snub. The summer blockbuster racked up eight nominations, among them Ryan Gosling’s acknowledgement in the Best Supporting Actor category. But [a nod for Ken and not Barbie](https://time.com/6565502/margot-robbie-ryan-gosling-greta-gerwig-barbie-oscars/), in a film that touches on the infiltration of patriarchy, felt a little on the nose for some observers. It was strongly felt that Gerwig should be in the Best Director category, and that Robbie should be recognised alongside her fellow actresses. But amid the outrage, a new theory has emerged as fans hope the film “pulls an _Argo_.” Cinephiles who remember Ben Affleck’s directorial snub for _Argo_ during the 2013 Oscar nominations are hoping the snub could lead to _Barbie_ bagging Best Picture. One social media user posted on X (formerly Twitter): “[Could Greta Gerwig’s Oscar snub ](https://twitter.com/HammyActor/status/1750089087896170527)be the thing that delivers the Best Picture Oscar for _Barbie_?” (As an executive producer but not a producer, Gerwig would not actually win an Oscar should _Barbie_ win Best Picture). Another X user wrote: “[The only way to avenge Greta and Margot’s snub ](https://twitter.com/francisjspeaks/status/1749872431987126501)is to give it Best Picture. The academy has done it for less, _Argo_. You can do it #Oscars.” Meanwhile, Reddit fans took a more strategic approach. "Could Greta Gerwig actually benefit from a director snub (a.k.a pull an _Argo_)?" one movie fan queried. “[Maybe a director snub could actually play out in her favor](https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/comments/19e3e2v/could%5Fgreta%5Fgerwig%5Factually%5Fbenefit%5Ffrom%5Fa/). Voters knowing that _Oppenheimer_ is likely to win bigger awards might vote for Gerwig in Best Adapted Screenplay,” they wrote. “Both because it is a remarkable achievement as a script and to partially make up for the director snub.” See below for further online commentary about the surprising theory. > [](https://twitter.com/MarloPerry/status/1750101789213622314) > [](https://twitter.com/LCJReviews/status/1750172057864704077) > [](https://twitter.com/francisjspeaks/status/1749872431987126501) > [](https://twitter.com/pmiscove/status/1749916914430939389) > [](https://twitter.com/jkozal/status/1749839977880670472) Affleck had directed and starred in _Argo_, a biopic about a U.S. hostage crisis in Iran, which was nominated in seven categories and went on to win three awards including Best Picture at the 2013 awards ceremony. Affleck spoke about losing out on a Best Director nomination during a 2021 appearance on _The Howard Stern Show._ “It was the big snub, right? That really taught me a lot. I did everything they told me,” he said, adding that he engaged with the campaign for it because he actively wanted to win the award. Recalling his snub, Affleck told Stern he called Warner Bros. and said “I’m never going to do it again… No handshaking.” Gosling also [expressed frustrations regarding _Barbie_’s snubs](https://time.com/6576771/ryan-gosling-oscar-nominations-barbie-statement-gerwig-robbie-ferrera/), saying he was “disappointed” by the lack of recognition for his colleagues. America Ferrera, who portrays Mattel employee Gloria, expressed her views on the nominations, saying: “Greta has done just about everything that a director could do to deserve it. Creating this world, and taking something that didn’t have inherent value to most people and making it a global phenomenon. It feels disappointing to not see her on that list.” In order to bag Best Picture, _Barbie_ would have to beat out critically-acclaimed favorites such as Martin Scorsese’s _The Killers of the Flower Moon_, Celine Song’s _Past Lives_, and Yorgos Lanthimos’ _Poor Things_. But fans will have to wait until the 96th Academy Awards ceremony on March 10 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to see if their theory is proved correct. **Correction, Jan. 25** _The original version of this story quoted a post on X that misstated Greta Gerwig's role with Barbie. She was an executive producer, not a producer._ ## Transcript [00:00] For anyone in the film industry in a matter where you're from [00:02] to be recognized by the academy is a dream come true to be nominated [00:07] changing. So okay for best performance by an actor in a supporting [00:16] role. [00:18] Sterling K Brown in American fiction [00:25] Robert De Niro in killers of the flower Moon [00:31] Robert Downey jr. [00:32] And Oppenheimer [00:37] Ryan Gosling game Barbie [00:41] And Mark Ruffalo in poor thing. [00:47] the nominees for cheeseman's in costume design [00:52] Barbie [00:56] killers of the flower Moon [00:59] Napoleon [01:02] Oppenheimer [01:04] and poor thing [01:10] the nominees for achievements in makeup and hairstyling [01:14] are [01:16] Golda [01:20] maestro [01:24] Oppenheimer [01:27] poor thing [01:30] and Society of the snow. [01:35] Now this year's nominees for best live action short film. [01:42] the after [01:45] invincible [01:49] Knight of Fortune [01:52] red white and blue [01:55] And the wonderful story of Henry sugar. [02:03] for best animated short film the nominees are [02:08] letter to a pig [02:12] 95 census [02:17] our uniform [02:22] Hershey Dam [02:26] and where is over inspired by the music of John and Yoko. [02:34] And now we have the first of the two word categories honoring [02:38] writers first for David screenplay. [02:41] The nominees are [02:44] American fiction written for the screen by cord Jefferson [02:51] Barbie [02:53] written by Greta Gerwig and Noah baumbach [02:57] Oppenheimer written for the screen by Christopher Nolan [03:03] poor things screenplay by Tony McNamara [03:09] and the zone of Interest [03:16] and for original screenplay the nominees are [03:20] anatomy of a fall green play Justine's VA and art or a Rari [03:27] the holdovers. [03:30] written by David hemmingsen [03:34] Maestro written by Bradley Cooper and Josh singer May December [03:41] screenplay by Sammy Burch Story by Sammy Burch and Alex mechanic [03:48] and past lives written by Celine song [03:56] last before I break the nominees for performance by an actress [04:01] in a supporting role. [04:03] Emily Blunt and Oppenheimer [04:08] Danielle Brooks in the color purple [04:14] America Ferrera and Barbie [04:19] Jodie Foster and Naya had [04:23] And divine Joy Randolph in the hold over. [04:29] nominees for Cheesman in music original song [04:34] the fire inside from Flamin Hot [04:38] recess [04:46] I'm just Ken from Barbie. [04:52] It never went away from American Symphony. [04:58] Was jaji a song for my people from killers of the flower Moon. [05:05] And what was I made for from Barbie? [05:11] Next up the nominees for Cheesman to music original score. [05:17] American fiction [05:22] Indiana Jones and the dial of Destiny [05:27] killers of the flower Moon [05:31] Oppenheimer [05:34] ask for him [05:39] and now the nominees for best documentary feature film. [05:45] Bobby wine the people's president [05:50] be Eternal memory. [05:55] four daughters [05:59] to kill a tiger [06:03] and 20 days in Mario fall [06:09] next for best documentary short film the nominees are [06:16] the ABCs of book Banning [06:21] The Barber of Little Rock [06:24] Island in between [06:28] the last repair shop [06:32] and 99 + y / [06:39] 4 best International feature film the nominees are [06:45] El Capitano, Italy [06:50] Perfect. Day is Japan. [06:54] Society of the snow Spain [06:58] the Teachers Lounge, Germany [07:02] and the zone of Interest United Kingdom [07:08] and for best animated feature film here are the nominees [07:12] the boy and a heron. [07:18] Elemental [07:22] nimona [07:25] robot dreams [07:28] And Spider-Man across the spider verse. [07:35] Here are the nominees for achievement in production design. [07:40] Barbie [07:45] killers of the flower Moon [07:49] Napoleon [07:53] Oppenheimer [07:56] and poor thing [07:59] Next up for achievement in film editing. [08:02] The nominees are [08:05] anatomy of a fall [08:09] the holdovers [08:13] Killers of the flower Moon [08:16] Oppenheimer [08:19] and poor thing [08:24] and for achievement and sound here are the nominees. [08:30] the Creator [08:35] maestro [08:38] Mission Impossible dead reckoning part 1 [08:43] Oppenheimer [08:47] and the zone of Interest [08:52] next the nominees for chief mint in visual effects. [08:57] the Creator [09:01] Godzilla - 1 [09:06] Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3 [09:10] mission impossible dead reckoning part 1 [09:15] and Napoleon [09:20] or achievement in cinematography the nominees are [09:25] El Conde [09:30] killers of the flower Moon [09:33] maestro [09:37] Oppenheimer [09:40] and poor things [09:44] performance by an actor in a leading role. [09:49] Riley Cooper [09:57] Colman Domingo [10:02] Paul Giamatti in the hold over [10:07] Killian Murphy and the timer [10:11] and Geoffrey Rush in American fiction [10:20] for performance by an actress in a leading role. [10:27] Annette Bening in Nyack [10:33] Lily Gladstone in killers of the flower Moon [10:40] Sandra Julio in anatomy of a fall [10:46] Carey Mulligan in maestro [10:50] And Emma Stone in poor thing. [10:57] For achievement in directing. [10:59] The nominees are [11:02] Justine clear anatomy of a song [11:08] Martin Scorsese killers of the flower Moon [11:14] Christopher Nolan Oppenheimer [11:18] yorgos lanthimos poor thing [11:22] And Jonathan Glazer the zone of Interest. [11:29] And now for our final category, I can't wait. [11:33] Let's read them together then nominees for best motion picture [11:39] of the year. [11:42] American fiction [11:46] Ben Leclair amigos amigos cord Jefferson and Jermaine Johnson [11:52] producers [11:54] Anatomy of a fall love you, honey, [11:58] and the video. [12:03] Barbie [12:04] David Heyman Margot Robbie Tom ackerley and Robbie Brenner [12:09] producers [12:11] the holdovers Mark Johnson producer [12:17] killers of the flower Moon [12:20] Dan friedkin Bradley Thomas Martin Scorsese and Daniel Lupi [12:25] producers [12:28] Maestro Bradley Cooper Steven Spielberg Fred burner Amy churning [12:34] and Kristie macosko Krieger producers [12:38] Oppenheimer Anna Thomas Charles, Roven and Christopher [12:43] Nolan producer [12:46] past lives David hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler [12:53] producers [12:56] 4 things add gyne Andrew Lowe yorgos lanthimos and Emma Stone [13:02] producers [13:05] and zone of Interest both in producer [13:13] Congratulations to this year's nominees. [13:16] It's been an honor to be with all of you this morning. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6576866/oscars-2024-greta-gerwig-snub-internet-fan-theory/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6576866/oscars-2024-greta-gerwig-snub-internet-fan-theory/"},"headline":"The Internet Has a Surprising Theory About Greta Gerwig's Barbie Oscars Snub","datePublished":"2024-01-24T11:30:46.000Z","dateModified":"2026-01-19T10:50:56.000Z","description":"Amid the outrage about Greta Gerwig being snubbed in the Best Director category, a new theory has emerged on the Internet.","url":"https://time.com/6576866/oscars-2024-greta-gerwig-snub-internet-fan-theory/","keywords":["Oscars","News Desk","storyladder"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltef7bf456f522b842/698a4422011682330e983d42/GettyImages-1537513223.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Armani Syed","jobTitle":"Syed was a reporter for TIME, based in the London bureau.","url":"https://time.com/author/armani-syed/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltef7bf456f522b842/698a4422011682330e983d42/GettyImages-1537513223.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"\"Barbie\" European Premiere - VIP Access","caption":"\"Barbie\" European Premiere - VIP Access","creditText":"Gareth Cattermole—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/oscars/","name":"Oscars"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6576866/oscars-2024-greta-gerwig-snub-internet-fan-theory/","name":"The Internet Has a Surprising Theory About Greta Gerwig's Barbie Oscars Snub"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2024 Oscar Nominations","description":"The 2024 Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday morning and Oppenheimer led the day with 13 nods, including for Best Picture, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), and Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt). 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