A red carpet ‘beach off’: Why the Kens are feuding.

I don’t even want to ask how many Kens it would take to change a lightbulb but as for how many Kens equal too much Kenergy on a red carpet? The answer is apparently two. 

Fresh from their Barbie Land battleground, Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu posed for the paps at the movie’s premiere in Toronto on June 28, but in the last 24 hours, awkward AF scenes have been unveiled. 

In a clip from the event, which has since gone viral, Liu can be seen slipping his arm around Gosling’s waist for a photo before the 42-year-old brushes him off. 

Watch the Barbie trailer. Post continues after video.

According to eagle-eared reports, this is what Gosling said: “Don’t hold me there, man, I mean, do you want me to touch you like that?”

To which a shocked Liu (34) can be heard saying: “You don’t want to? Yeh, that’s too tender, you think? Fair enough.”

And then he quickly removes the offending arm and stuffs his hand into his pocket for more photos. 

The OUTRAGE! The SHADE! 

“Oh, I’d literally never show my face again,” one person Tweeted, while MILLIONS (okay, maybe not, but like, a lot of people) questioned what-the-heck-was-up? 

So, like all good journalists, we had to get to the bottom of it immediately.

May I present: KENGATE — A VERY SERIOUS INVESTIGATION.

@etalkctv You asked for it! Here’s the full clip of Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu interacting on the #Barbie red carpet in #Toronto. 💕 The Kenmance is strong. 🥲 This footage was shot before the SAG-AFTRA strike. #RyanGosling #SimuLiu #BarbieTheMovie #TorontoTikTok #RedCarpet #Kenough #Ken ♬ original sound - etalk

‘Kens will be Kens.’

“Kens will be Kens” was the general consensus on social media. And I thought, you’re not wrong. 

But does this mean Ken’s kenness has seeped into the subconscious of both Gosling and Liu IN REAL LIFE?! Do they now worship the patriarchy and horses?

“Okay, is it me or has Ryan Gosling come off very arrogant for this entire press tour??” someone asked on Twitter. 

“That’s too much Ken for one screen,” another wrote on Instagram, while someone else declared that Ryan’s behaviour “was a very mojo dojo case house adorned attitude!”

Alpha Ken. 

So, if movie Ken has now taken over the actors’ lives, where does that leave their stardom?! 

Fighting to be heard apparently. 

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A post shared by Simu Liu (@simuliu)

“Because boys are dumb and simple,” one of my work buddies theorised, “they’re fighting over who's the alpha Ken.” 

Not sure who came off on top in this red carpet ‘beach off', but we’re afraid. Very afraid.

Kenadian rights.

Could tensions have been a little touchy because the pair were on their home turf? 

While Gosling was born in Canada in 1980, Liu moved over from China with his family when he was just five years old. 

“The Ken-ergy was strong in Toronto!!” Liu wrote on his Instagram page at the time of the premiere.

“It was a pleasure to stop in for a little Ken-adian homecoming and witness all of your amazing outfits.”

He then went on to refer to the movie’s “world-shattering dance number set to a bespoke song about Ken,” calling it not an anthem but a MANthem, and I just had to ask: was this spat over bragging rights?!  

Listen to the hosts of Mamamia Out Loud on the question is everyone is asking about Barbie. Post continues after podcast.

Who’s got the best tan?

To be honest, at the end of this extremely professional investigation, we are just as flummoxed. But one thought did spring to mind. 

I read recently that Gosling had to undertake numerous spray tans to keep his lewk fresh while Liu didn’t.

So it’s either that, or the locks. 

“Maybe Simu borrowed Ryan’s hair dryer and swore he’d give it back but he never did,” another desperate colleague suggested. 

Whatever it is, we hope these Ken-emies can kiss and make up. 

Image: Warner Bros + Mamamia.