Ryan Gosling's 'I'm Just Ken' Oscars Performance: A Pink, Star-Studded Spectacle!

The 96th Academy Awards were electrified by a performance that can only be described as pure ‘Kenergy.’ Ryan Gosling, the heartthrob of Hollywood, took the Oscars by storm with a live rendition of ‘I’m Just Ken’ from the ‘Barbie’ original soundtrack. The song, nominated for Best Original Song alongside Billie Eilish’s ‘What Was I Made For?,’ was brought to life in a way only Gosling could deliver, complete with a sparkling pink suit and an entourage of Ken co-stars.

“Ryan Gosling” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Before the performance, the anticipation was palpable. Simu Liu, Gosling’s ‘Barbie’ co-star, had the audience light up the room with their phones, creating a sea of stars ready to sing along. And sing along they did, as Gosling, bathed in purple lighting, began his performance in the audience, right behind a laughing Margot Robbie.

The energy was infectious as Gosling made his way to the stage, joined by the legendary Mark Ronson on guitar and a team of backup dancers. But the surprises didn’t stop there. Slash, the iconic Guns N’ Roses guitarist, graced the stage with a guitar solo that rocked the Dolby Theatre.

The performance was a true ensemble piece, with Gosling’s fellow Ken actors—Simu Liu, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa, and Kingsley Ben-Adir—joining in the fun. Gosling even ventured back into the audience, sharing the mic with ‘Barbie’ collaborators Greta Gerwig, Robbie, and America Ferrera, and his ‘La La Land’ co-star Emma Stone, who all passionately sang along.

The buzz around Gosling’s potential live performance had been building for weeks. After opting out of performing ‘City of Stars’ at the 2017 Oscars, fans were left wondering if Gosling would grace the stage this time around. It wasn’t until a few weeks before the ceremony that Gosling confirmed his participation, fulfilling Mark Ronson’s ‘dream’ of performing the song live with Gosling on vocals.

Ronson had been adamant that without Gosling, there would be no performance of ‘I’m Just Ken.’ His commitment to this vision paid off in a spectacle that was both rousing and ridiculous. Gosling’s playful banter about the logistics of performing at the Oscars, as reported by W Magazine, only added to the charm of the moment.

Despite the song’s loss to Eilish’s ‘What Was I Made For?,’ Gosling’s performance was a win in its own right. It was a moment of pure joy and entertainment that captured the hearts of everyone in attendance and watching at home. Gosling’s ‘Barbie’ role earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination, and the film itself garnered eight nominations, including Best Picture.

Ryan Gosling’s ‘I’m Just Ken’ performance was a highlight of the night, a dazzling display of showmanship and camaraderie that will be remembered for years to come. So, let’s raise our glasses to the man who brought Ken to life in the most fabulous way possible, and to a performance that was, without a doubt, Kenough.