Current:Home > MarketsBill Maher Ken-not with Barbie fighting the patriarchy: 'This movie is so 2000-LATE' -Wealth Legacy Solutions
Bill Maher Ken-not with Barbie fighting the patriarchy: 'This movie is so 2000-LATE'
Indexbit Exchange View
Date:2025-03-12 01:29:56
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! (54)
Related
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- The Vampire Diaries' Kat Graham Marries Bryant Wood in Surprise Ceremony
- 6 dead in Russian rocket strike as Ukraine reports record bomb attack numbers
- Kourtney Kardashian Shares Heartfelt Birthday Tribute to Kim Kardashian After TV Fights
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- Kourtney Kardashian’s Husband Travis Barker Shares His Sex Tip
- Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler power Phillies to the brink of World Series with NLCS Game 5 win
- Connecticut postmaster admits to defrauding USPS through cash bribes and credit card schemes
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Craig Kimbrel melts down as Diamondbacks rally to beat Phillies, even up NLCS
Ranking
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Bay Area rap icon E-40 films music video at San Joaquin Valley vineyard
- College football Week 8 highlights: Catch up on all the scores, best plays and biggest wins
- Entertainment industry A-listers sign a letter to Biden urging a cease-fire in Gaza
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- Little light, no beds, not enough anesthesia: A view from the ‘nightmare’ of Gaza’s hospitals
- This $7 Leave-In Conditioner Gives Me Better Results Than Luxury Haircare Brands
- Undefeated No. 3 Buckeyes and No. 7 Nittany Lions clash in toughest test yet for Big Ten East rivals
Recommendation
B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
Venezuelans become largest nationality for illegal border crossings as September numbers surge
You're Going to Want to Read Every Last One of Kim Kardashian's Wild Sex Confessions
Michigan football suspends analyst Connor Stalions amid NCAA investigation of Wolverines
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Philippines says its coast guard ship and supply boat are hit by Chinese vessels near disputed shoal
Man searching carrot field finds ancient gold and bronze jewelry — and multiple teeth
Iowa woman who made fake cancer claims on social media must pay restitution but stays out of prison