Simu Liu is assuring everyone that here is no bar-beef between him and his fellow Ken and Canadian (or what has been cleverly deemed “Kenadian”), Barbie co-star Ryan Gosling.
The two returned to their roots and promoted the film in Toronto on June 29 for its Canadian premiere, where a video of the actors together on the “pink” carpet has received some buzz. Fans have described the interaction as awkward and uncomfortable, but Liu has shot down the chatter.
He shared a picture on his Instagram story yesterday (July 27) taken at the Canadian premiere, where Gosling is gazing at Liu.
“I’d beach off with this Kenadian again in a heartbeat,” he began his story post. “He is the best human in every way, especially when he jokes around with us on the carpet and on set, infecting all of us with his Kenergy.”
He continued to address the SAG-AFTRA strike, which began exactly a week prior to the film’s U.S. theatrical debut.
“Now let’s get back to the issues that matter, like supporting our striking actors and writers fighting for fair wages!,” he wrote.
Etalk, a Canadian celebrity news network, posted a video of the viral video on Twitter. The clip captures the duo posing for the press, but as Liu goes to put his arm around his co-star, Gosling moves away. However, you can hear the two joking that hugging in their close-up might be “too tender” for their macho Ken characters.
The two stars have been clearly exuding “Kenergy,” a concept coined by their characters, which Liu told TODAY.com he loves.
“It’s this male energy, but it’s very non-toxic — Kenergy doesn’t come at anyone else’s expense,” he explained. “Kenergy is one’s own individual peak, in terms of their own self-expression and their confidence.”
You can soak up the Kenergy of Liu, Gosling, and their many fellow Kens in Barbie, currently in theaters.
