Fans believe that Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu shared an awkward exchange on the red carpet while promoting Barbie.
Amid the ongoing fan craze over Greta Gerwig’s new blockbuster about the Mattel dolls, a video has resurfaced of Gosling (who plays Ken) brusquely brushing off co-star Liu (who plays another version of Ken) at a press day in Toronto, Canada last month.
In the now-deleted viral clip, the duo were posing for photographers when the 34-year-old Shang-Chi actor tried to innocuously slip his hand around the 42-year-old La La Land actor's waist.
It appears that Gosling wasn't too fond of the gesture as he seemingly said: "Don’t hold me there, man. I mean, do you want me to touch you like that?"
Watch the moment below:In response, the One True Loves star said: "You don’t what – oh, it’s too tender? Fair enough," before removing his arm away from the Blade Runner actor.
Naturally, fans were quick to weigh in on the awkward interaction via social media as one person said: "That video of Ryan Gosling & Simu Liu is so awkward to watch. Oh God."
Another remarked: "At first I felt awkward watching this but now I'm realizing this is literally just Ryan Gosling setting a boundary. Ppl are saying it's a joke or that he doesn't like Simu. But now I'm realizing that we scream about boundaries but get mad & uncomfortable when someone sets them."
Meanwhile, one user theorized that perhaps Gosling and Liu were just trying to play up their roles as the different Kens in the film.
"I think it’s their characters playing like they hate each other cause they are in competition with each other in the movie. It ain’t that deep," one user argued.
However, another person contended that the duo was probably trying to "figure out a pose".
Upon seeing all the responses to the viral clip, the Marvel actor took to his Instagram to set the record straight on his relationship with his castmate and fellow Ken.
Sharing a smiley photo of himself alongside Gosling at the event, Liu wrote: "I'd beach off with this Kenadian again in a heartbeat," which is a reference to a line in the movie.
He then gushed that Gosling is "the best human in every way," adding: "Especially when he jokes around with us on the carpet and on set, infecting all of us with his Kenergy."
"Now let's get back to the issues that matter, like supporting our striking actors and writers fighting for fair wages!" Liu added.
Everyone is praising Margot Robbie for her role as the titular character in the movie, as well as additional members of the cast, including Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Michael Cera, America Ferrera, and Dua Lipa.
Released last weekend, Gerwig made history for having the biggest opening weekend for a film directed by a woman but has also managed to rake in a whopping $377 million during that time too.
The 39-year-old director's movie also claimed the top spot in North America (US and Canada combined) with a massive $155 million in ticket sales from 4,243 locations, surpassing The Super Mario Bros Movie and every Marvel film released this year to become the biggest opening of the year.
Barbie is available to watch in theaters now.
