Ryan Gosling, the little liar, was prepping "I'm Just Ken" Oscars performance for "months"
Ryan Gosling told the press he hadn't been asked to perform at the Oscars, all while secretly preparing the night's biggest moment

This just goes to show: you can’t trust an actor! In January, and again in February, Ryan Gosling claimed he hadn’t even been asked to perform his blockbuster Barbie musical number “I’m Just Ken” at the 2024 Oscars. But the truth is, “we met with him on Zooms months ago, talking about that performance,” Molly McNearney, Oscars producer and wife of Jimmy Kimmel, told Variety. Gosling, the “true professional,” was just throwing everyone off the scent.
According to this Variety behind-the-scenes look at one of the most memorable moments from the 96th Oscars, the elaborate performance came from collaboration with the ceremony’s producers as well as director Greta Gerwig, music producer Mark Ronson, and choreographer Mandy Moore. But the creative direction apparently all came from Gosling, who came up with the “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” homage. From beginning in the audience, to which parts he’d like to sing with Gerwig, Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and Emma Stone, to placing a kiss on the cameraman’s hand, it all came from Ken’s Oscar-nominated brain.