Mark Ronson, Renowned Music Producer for ‘Barbie,’ Rebukes Bill Maher Over Critique of Blockbuster Movie

Mark Ronson, the accomplished music producer behind the enchanting melodies of ‘Barbie,’ has raised his voice against Bill Maher’s recent critique of Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar sensation.

Ronson, whose artistic vision breathed life into the Barbie soundtrack album, as well as co-producing and co-writing several of the movie’s standout tracks, including the infectious “I’m Just Ken,” took to social media to offer his candid perspective on Maher’s assessment of the film as “preachy, man-hating, and a #ZombieLie.”

In a tweet that playfully echoed Nicole Kidman’s memorable advertisement, Ronson conveyed, “We venture to this realm for enchantment. We visit AMC theaters to experience laughter, tears, empathy… and to frantically Google ‘Mattel board configuration’ while others endeavor to savor a truly splendid comedy.”

The Academy Award-winning artist, who clinched the coveted accolade for Best Original Song in 2019, was prompted by Maher’s multi-paragraph tweet that surfaced earlier. In the tweet, the Real Time host expressed his ambivalence towards Barbie, indicating it matched his expectations despite harboring a hope to the contrary.

“Alright, ‘Barbie’: I held out hope it wouldn’t embody preachiness, misandry, and a #ZombieLie – yet, it embodies all three,” Maher remarked. He went on to elaborate on the concept of a “Zombie Lie,” referring to statements that persist despite being either untrue or outdated but are continually propagated by certain individuals.

Maher delved into specific elements of the film, venturing into slightly spoiler-y territory. He highlighted a scene where Barbie (played by Margot Robbie) and Ken (portrayed by Ryan Gosling) confront the real-world Mattel board, comprised solely of twelve white men.

Contesting Maher’s stance, he offered a perspective on the actual gender diversity within corporate boards, asserting, “The genuine composition of the Mattel board closely resembles the nation’s fabric, with women occupying 45% of the 449 board seats filled last year in Fortune 500 companies.” Maher emphasized his alignment with the prevailing reality, rather than clinging to outdated notions.

Maher’s critique of Gerwig’s Barbie places him alongside figures like Ben Shapiro and Elon Musk, who have also expressed unfavorable opinions about the film.