Simu Liu has addressed the recent viral footage of him and fellow Canadian actor Ryan Gosling, clarifying the seemingly awkward exchange between the two. The clip, taken during the Canadian press day for Greta Gerwig’s record-breaking film Barbie, shows Liu with his arm around Gosling’s waist as they pose for photos. However, Gosling appears to pull away and make a comment to Liu, prompting Liu to joke and remove his arm. In a recent Instagram post, Liu dismissed any suggestions of tension between them and emphasized that Gosling’s behavior was in good humor.
Liu’s Instagram post sought to put the rumors to rest, expressing his admiration for Gosling and emphasizing their friendly relationship. He referred to Gosling as the best human in every way and praised his sense of humor on and off set, infecting everyone with his positive energy. Liu also mentioned their playful banter during a beach you off exchange in Barbie and expressed his desire to work with Gosling again in the future.
While the initial reaction to the viral clip was one of fascination and speculation, Liu’s post clarified that there was no animosity between him and Gosling. Fans online had interpreted the interaction as a rejection, leading to second-hand embarrassment for some. However, Liu’s reassurance suggests that the exchange was lighthearted and not to be taken seriously.
In Barbie, Liu portrays one of the various Kens alongside Ncuti Gatwa, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Scott Evans. Gosling plays Beach Ken, the lead character opposite Margot Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie. The film explores Beach Ken’s journey as he begins to question his role in Barbieland before confronting the patriarchy.
Barbie had a successful opening weekend, grossing $300 million (£233 million). The film faced stiff competition from Oppenheimer, which also performed well on its opening day. Despite the anticipated rivalry between the two films, both casts and crews showed support for one another, with Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy even expressing his willingness to be part of a potential Barbie sequel.
While Liu clarified the situation with Gosling, he took the opportunity to draw attention to the ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Liu urged his followers to support actors and writers fighting for fair wages, emphasizing the importance of addressing industry-wide issues.
In summary, Simu Liu has clarified the viral footage capturing an exchange between him and Ryan Gosling, stating that it was all in good fun. He expressed admiration for Gosling and highlighted their positive relationship. Despite initial speculation, Liu’s reassurance suggests that there is no tension between the two actors. The post also served as a reminder to support striking actors and writers in Hollywood. Barbie and Oppenheimer both enjoyed successful opening weekends and received mutual support from their respective casts and crews.
