The Academy Awards Expert Talks Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig Oscar Snub

Everyone was shocked when the Academy Awards nominations were revealed and the biggest film of 2023 was nominated for Best Picture, but the film’s director and star were blatantly left out of their respective categories. Both Greta Gerwig AND Margot Robbie were nominated for the Golden Globes, but passed over for the Oscar and fans were left wondering why.

Now that all the memes and viewer discussions have taken place, one expert is weighing in. Dave Karger, author and host of Turner Classic Movies, explained to People in a recent interview:

“It’s definitely not a good idea that Academy members passed over Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie for directing and starring in a film that’s largely about how impressive women are often marginalized… Even though both have received nominations for their work on Barbie in other categories, these two high-profile omissions will be remembered – and hurt – for a long time.”

Gerwig is up for Best Adapted Screenplay and the film is in the Best Picture category, but it’s absurd that a better film would only get a supporting actor nod. Karger went on to share what he thinks may have factored into the Academy’s decisions, saying:

“I think the Academy membership has a bit of a bias, unconscious or otherwise, against real comedies and against heavier dramas. Greta and Margot definitely came in at thousands of votes, but since those votes are weighted towards the #1 favorites. 1 and no. 2 of the voters, we can assume that they simply did not get enough high-level votes.

Whatever the reason, all we can do at this point is pity each other and keep talking about the discrepancy so that this doesn’t happen again in the future. The Academy Awards will air on March 10.