The Oscar-nominated "Barbie" movie might have resonated deeply with many fans and critics, but Colombian singer Shakira revealed that her sons had a very different reaction. In a recent cover interview for Allure, Shakira shared that her sons Milan, 11, and Sasha, 9, whom she shares with ex Gerard Piqué, found the film "emasculating."
"My sons absolutely hated it. They felt that it was emasculating," Shakira stated. "And I agree, to a certain extent."
The "Hips Don't Lie" singer expressed her desire for her sons to feel powerful while also respecting women. "I like pop culture when it attempts to empower women without robbing men of their possibility to be men, to also protect and provide," she explained. "I believe in giving women all the tools and the trust that we can do it all without losing our essence, without losing our femininity."
Shakira emphasized the importance of complementing each other in society and not losing sight of the unique roles men and women play. While advocating for women's empowerment, she also questioned why the load shouldn't be shared with those who deserve to carry it.
Greta Gerwig's "Barbie," starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, faced criticism upon its release for its perceived anti-male stance. The film explores patriarchy through the lens of dolls living in Barbieland, where they experience a role reversal upon entering the human world.
Gerwig addressed the backlash, expressing her hope that the movie serves as an invitation for everyone to join the conversation about gender roles.
"Certainly, there’s a lot of passion," she said to the The New York Times. "My hope for the movie is that it’s an invitation for everybody to be part of the party and let go of the things that aren’t necessarily serving us as either women or men."
Gerwig continued: "I hope that in all of that passion, if they see it or engage with it, it can give them some of the relief that it gave other people."
