Margot Robbie's Oscars dress has ignited an unusual theory online.
The actress stunned viewers at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, showing up in a skin-tight black Versace gown. The outfit was a far cry from her recent awards show attire, with the 33-year-old wearing pink to promote Barbie at the recent BAFTA and SAG-AFTRA awards.
While hosting the U.K. coverage of the Oscars on ITV, English comedian and film critic Jonathan Ross and his guests debated whether Robbie was wearing black to "mourn" Barbie not being nominated in the Best Director or Best Actress categories.
The Context
The "snubs" shocked viewers when the Oscars' nominees were announced in January, considering Barbie broke numerous records last summer—including having the largest opening weekend ever for a movie with a female director—and grossing $1 billion worldwide within 17 days of its release.
Dubbed "Barbie Core," Robbie wore pink non-stop during the film's promotional tour, along with several replicas of the doll's iconic outfits. The color is synonymous with the Mattel creation, with the Barbie set using so much pink paint it caused a global shortage.
The Views
Many viewers supported Ross' theory, dubbing Robbie's gown her "RIP Barbie" dress.
"Wearing black for the two times she was robbed at the #Oscars," said Vi on X, formerly Twitter.
"It's giving REVENGE dress," said Juan.
"Pro move," agreed Mark Mullicane.
"Margot Robbie said 'I'm not on the clock anymore, you are getting a black dress and a smile and you will like it," joked @EraicLyrios.
"Margot Robbie must be pretty p***** that Ken got a nom and her director didn't," wrote Karen 2.0. "Barbie saved cinema this last year. Don't blame her for wearing black."
However, others found the theory a stretch.
"Oh my god ITV are going off the deep end with a conspiracy theory that Margot Robbie wearing black because Greta Gerwig wasn't nominated," said Marchame Web.
"'Is margot robbie mourning the oscars, is this a statement, is she sick of pink,' naur shes just in her reputation era," said @plasticdaisy.
Newsweek reached out to Margot Robbie and Jonathan Ross for comment via email.
Although Barbie wasn't nominated for Best Director or Actress, it did land nominations in several other categories, including Best Picture, Best Costume Design and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film took home the Best Original Song award for Billie Eilish's What Was I Made For?
Update 03/11/24 at 3:40 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include further information about the Barbie promotional tour and Academy Awards controversy.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Sophie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in Lincoln, UK. Her focus is reporting on film and ... Read more
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