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Greta Gerwig's upcoming live-action Barbie film has been causing a stir on the internet. The film, featuring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as her boyfriend Ken, has a bubblegum pop aesthetic and a high dose of nostalgia, which has caught the attention of many.
Scheduled for release on July 21, this will be the first live-action Barbie film ever made. The film's tagline, "She's everything. He's just Ken", has become a meme template, with Twitterati using it to show a couple where the woman is superior to her male partner.
This Twitter user, for instance, used the meme template for Bollywood royalty, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan.
She’s everything He’s just Ken pic.twitter.com/w9OYjLzLnz
— u (@vincentsadgogh) April 6, 2023
Another user set up a comparison between Geet and Aditya from Jab We Met.
she’s everything, he’s just Ken pic.twitter.com/22qLCeJuqE
— zohair (@shayadzohair) April 5, 2023
Lucky and Sanju (Zayed Khan and Amrita Rao) from Main Hoon Na were not spared either
She's everything. He's just Ken. pic.twitter.com/FWg0scaq9g
— BakaNeko (@BaddKhatti) April 6, 2023
Ashfaq Mian from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was dragged as well
She's everything He's just Ashfaq miya pic.twitter.com/W838Dwh4bJ
— Daughter of SRKajol (@OfSrkajol) April 4, 2023
Once desi references ran out, users of the microblogging site looked Westwards for memes. For instance, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth were turned into a meme. This comes on the heels of a split that left Cyrus with a Billboard Hot 100 charting song, and Hemsworth with a bruised ego.
She's everything. He's just Ken pic.twitter.com/BucrxpDzs2
— Daniela Salazar (@Danielasalbe) April 4, 2023
Bridgerton couples were also embroiled into the scheme.
she's everything he's just ken pic.twitter.com/JkZJX4tYZt
— julea of crows ४ (@laufystark) April 4, 2023
Princess Diana and King Charles III also made the cut, too
She’s everything. He’s just Ken. https://t.co/q7GOhzKXBt pic.twitter.com/K1HhBz0a7q
— Dra𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐚 (@MarinenaCi) April 4, 2023
While Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande, who were briefly engaged, also became a part of the meme trend.
shes everything, hes just ken pic.twitter.com/8ZE7jgGZYM
— arianators wildin (@arianatorswildt) April 5, 2023
Sharpay and Ryan from the High School Musical series were also included.
She's everything. He's just Ryan. #HighSchoolMusical pic.twitter.com/e9Rs0jDeLh
— Disney Channel (@DisneyChannel) April 5, 2023
Ron and Hermoine were spotted as well (should’ve thrown Harry into the mix since Hermoine carried them both).
she's everything. he's just ken. pic.twitter.com/bPdPX3Or1i
— Lizzie Logan (@lizzzzzielogan) April 6, 2023
Finally, Bollywood’s newest fixations, Zendaya and Tom Holland, were also a part of the meme trend.
She’s everything. He’s just Ken. pic.twitter.com/MbBkWsDZTB
— 𖤐 (@pink_giu_) April 4, 2023
The comparison between Ken and Barbie is based on the fact that the Barbie universe revolves around her, while Ken is seen simply as a love interest who doesn't add much value to the narrative. This mirrors the limited roles often given to female love interests in movies.
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