In the bustling realm of entertainment, it is no easy task to steal the limelight. Yet, the upcoming film ‘Barbie’ seems to have effortlessly caught the public’s attention, dominating conversations and internet chatter. This star-studded spectacle, featuring the remarkable talents of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is directed by the acclaimed Greta Gerwig. However, a seemingly unconventional promotional poster for the film has gone beyond merely generating excitement. It has become a subject of heated debate, piquing curiosity and sparking widespread intrigue.
The ‘Barbie’ Film and Its Promising Premise
The film ‘Barbie’ has garnered considerable interest even before its release. A whimsical blend of fantasy and comedy, this much-anticipated movie promises to deliver an enchanting experience for viewers. The film is a Greta Gerwig directorial, known for her knack for storytelling and a unique approach to filmmaking. Starring Margot Robbie, an actress lauded for her versatility, and Ryan Gosling, celebrated for his charm and depth, the film promises a captivating dynamic between two compelling characters: Barbie and Ken.
With the film’s release date approaching, the marketing team has pulled out all stops to drum up interest, sharing a series of promotional posters featuring the lead stars. While most of these posters have been met with enthusiasm, one particular French poster has provoked an unforeseen reaction.
A Twist in the Tale: The Provocative Pun
The now-viral French poster presents the same visual as the English version, capturing Robbie, portraying Barbie, confidently perched atop Gosling’s shoulder. However, it’s not the imagery that has created a stir—it’s the accompanying text that has opened Pandora’s box of controversy.
📷I NEW French Barbie Movie poster with Ryan Gosling & Margot Robbie pic.twitter.com/Y0iF7nc2Vz
— 𝗥𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 ❀ ๑ೃ (@PageGosling) June 16, 2023
In English, the original tagline reads: “She’s everything, he’s just Ken,” a light-hearted nod to the iconic Barbie-Ken dynamic. However, its French translation, “Elle peut tout faire. Lui, c’est juste Ken”, becomes a controversial double entendre when delved deeper. The translation roughly corresponds to “She can do everything. He’s just Ken.”
The casual use of the word ‘Ken’ has triggered discussions since, in French slang, ‘Ken’ carries a risqué meaning. So the innocent-looking sentence morphs into the provocative phrase: “She knows how to do everything. He knows how to f*ck.” This unexpected transformation has led to intense debate on social media, leaving everyone guessing whether this was a genuine translation oversight or a masterstroke of deliberate marketing.
RIP AUX ANGLOPHONES PARCE QUE LE JEU DE MOTS AVEC KEN EST INCROYAAAAABLE pic.twitter.com/a5UmtGNY1Y
— leah (@grammedevanille) June 16, 2023
Another chimed in, “French Twitter is losing its mind right now because they translated the Barbie poster literally and accidentally made a pun that reads ‘She knows how to do everything. He just knows how to f*ck.'”
Accidental Slip or Calculated Genius?
As the chatter grew, an unexpected voice entered the conversation—a marketing executive from a rival studio—who firmly believed that this controversial pun was anything but accidental.
The french #Barbie poster is genius marketing cause “ken” in french slang means to have sex 😂
“she can do everything…. he can only ken” kinda bold if you ask me pic.twitter.com/w3n0KcCDGC
— Gigi 🇫🇷 🏳️🌈 (@French_Gi) June 16, 2023
“It’s definitely deliberate; there’s no way a French speaker wouldn’t have noticed the dirty pun. It’s sort of genius, really, that they slipped that in,” the executive told The Hollywood Reporter.
This assertion has only served to stoke the fire of speculation further. Still, Warner Brothers Studio, the film’s production house, has remained silent about whether this was a deliberate act of marketing brilliance. A studio spokesperson noted that the controversy only heightens the palpable excitement surrounding the film.
The Unforeseen Impact and Anticipation
Regardless of the truth behind this engaging saga, one thing is clear—the unconventional marketing twist, intentional or not, has amplified anticipation for ‘Barbie.’ This controversy has spotlighted the film and ingeniously leveraged curiosity to increase audience engagement. The world now waits with bated breath for the release of ‘Barbie’ on July 21, 2023.
Whether a cleverly designed ploy or a fortunate mistake, the unexpected pun has undeniably transformed a simple film poster into a hot topic of discussion. The result? A marketing triumph that any film would envy.
Source: Pinkvilla
