Current:Home > reviewsBill Maher Ken-not with Barbie fighting the patriarchy: 'This movie is so 2000-LATE' -ValueCore
Bill Maher Ken-not with Barbie fighting the patriarchy: 'This movie is so 2000-LATE'
View
Date:2025-04-19 17:53:40
Bill Maher doesn't think Greta Gerwig's representation of life in plastic is all that fantastic.
The "Real Time" host shared his thoughts Monday about "Barbie" on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Though the film starring Margot Robbie as the titular character has surpassed $1 billion at the box office since its July 21 release date, Maher wasn't impressed.
"I was hoping it wouldn't be preachy, man-hating, and a #ZombieLie - alas, it was all three," Maher began. He described a "zombie lie" as "something that never was true, but certain people refuse to stop saying it (tax cuts for the rich increase revenues, e.g.); OR something that USED to be true but no longer is, but certain people pretend it's still true. 'Barbie' is this kind of #ZombieLie."
'Barbie' review:Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling dazzle in hilariously heady toy story
Maher continued, taking issue with portrayal of Mattel's board in the film as "12 white men! The Patriarchy!" he wrote. "Except there's a Mattel board in real life, and it's 7 men and 5 women." Mattel's website currently identifies 11 Board of Directors, consisting of six men and five women.
"OK, not perfect even-steven," Maher went on, "but not the way the board IN THE MOVIE - which takes place in 2023 - is portrayed. And not really any longer deserving of the word 'patriarchy.' Yes, there was one, and remnants of it remain - but this movie is so 2000-LATE."
"I know, I know, 'How could I know about the patriarchy, I AM a man!'" Maher wrote, preemptively going on the defense. "That argument is so old and so silly. Of course, none of us can know exactly what others go through life, but I can see the world around me, and I can read data.
"The real Mattel board is a pretty close mirror of the country, where 45% of the 449 board seats filled last year in Fortune 500 companies were women," Maher added. "Barbie is fun, I enjoyed it - but it IS a #ZombieLie," Maher wrote in conclusion. "Let's live in the year we're living in! Hi Ken!!!"
Though, it appears Maher might be quoting from older data. According to this year's Heidrick & Struggles' Board Monitor US report, there were 414 Fortune 500 board appointments made in 2022 (a decrease from 449 in 2021). And only 40% of the 2022 openings were filled by women, per the report, down from 45% in 2021. Furthermore, the company's analysis of CEOs released in 2022 found that women made up 7% of CEOs around the world. Last year women in America "earned an average of 82% of what men earned," per Pew Research Center findings that looked at "median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers."
'Barbie' ending:Greta Gerwig talks 'emotional' final line, creator Ruth Handler (Spoilers!)
veryGood! (18276)
Related
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Jennifer Aniston recalls last conversation with 'Friends' co-star Matthew Perry: 'He was happy'
- Todd Chrisley Details His Life in Filthy Prison With Dated Food
- Teen fatally shot as he drove away from Facebook Marketplace meetup: Reports
- Sam Taylor
- Why Bella Thorne Is Trying to Hide Battery Packs in Her Hair for Mark Emms Wedding
- Cyclone Jasper is expected to intensify before becoming the first of the season to hit Australia
- Iran executes man convicted of killing a senior cleric following months of unrest
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Virginia sheriff’s office says Tesla was running on Autopilot moments before tractor-trailer crash
Ranking
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Oprah Winfrey talks passing baton in The Color Purple adaptation: You have taken it and made it yours
- Why are there NFL games on Saturday? How to watch Saturday's slate of games.
- Ethiopia arrests former peace minister over alleged links to an outlawed rebel group
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- Missouri county to pay $1.2 million to settle lawsuit over inmate restraint chair death
- Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Officially Becomes Highest-Grossing Tour Ever
- Virginia sheriff’s office says Tesla was running on Autopilot moments before tractor-trailer crash
Recommendation
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
A Chicago train operator knew snow equipment was on the line but braked immediately, review finds
Parent and consumer groups warn against 'naughty tech toys'
What to do if someone gets you a gift and you didn't get them one? Expert etiquette tips
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
'This is completely serious': MoonPie launches ad campaign targeting extraterrestrials
How the remixed American 'cowboy' became the breakout star of 2023
Caitlin Clark signs NIL with Gatorade. How does Iowa star stack up to other star athletes?