In a world where patriarchy and male chauvinism dominate the social and other spheres of our lives, Ryan Gosling wears his masculinity on his sleeve. But unlike others or most of his contemporaries, the star is a feminist through and through, and is not afraid to acknowledge it. An ‘ultimate ladies’ man’, the actor’s boyish good looks, charismatic personality, and versatile acting skills have made him popular among fans.
While he has had his fair share of chauvinistic hardcore roles, the actor has lately been famous for his unconventional masculine roles. His answer to the question— ‘what is the scariest animal’— only proves why he is so popular among the ladies and men.
Ryan Gosling’s Unabashed Pick of ‘The Scariest Animal’
Ryan Gosling broke into the mainstream with movies like The Notebook, Crazy, Stupid, Love, etc. Ever since, despite enough ‘macho’ roles under his belt, the actor continues to enjoy enduring popularity with his unconventional masculine roles, where he is not afraid to let go of the ‘male chauvinistic’ ideals and lets his female co-stars shine.
In Barbie, he plays Ken and does so without a hint of ego. Despite the big masculine energy Ken has, Gosling’s Ken is all too happy to live under the shadow of his girlfriend, Barbie. Even off-screen, the actor was and is not afraid to acknowledge and let his female colleagues lead. And when his Barbie co-star and director were snubbed at the Oscars 2024, he famously declared there is no Ken without Barbie (via Time).
And so his pick of the scariest animal hardly comes as a surprise. In an interview with Steven Colbert on The Late Show, the actor was asked what is the scariest animal, and without missing a beat the actor said,
Men.
While he did change his answer later on, his first response remains iconic, even more so for Gosling’s quick-witted reply highlights his awareness of the society. By identifying men as the scariest animals, he not only subtly critiques toxic masculinity but also reinforces his stance as a feminist ally.
Fans Praise Ryan Gosling for His Daring and Audacious Reply
Ryan Gosling has always been daring, whether it is declaring his support to his cast and crew of Barbie during their Oscars snub this year or whether it is declaring that women are better than men (via Evening Standard). Gosling’s feminist image has also led to the creation of the famous Feminist Ryan Gosling Tumblr, and his contribution has led him to be the most culturally impactful male celebrity feminist so far (via EOnline).
Over the years, the actor has received immense praise for his heartwarming actions towards his female co-stars and family. Back in 2017, while accepting the Golden Globe Best Actor award Gosling voiced his support to his wife Eva Mendes, thanking her for raising their daughters while he was busy filming La La Land (via Vulture). In another instance, while talking to the Wall Street Journal, he revealed that he always makes decisions after consulting with his wife first.
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While the internet is full of such instances, Gosling’s ‘men being the scariest animal’ comment went viral on the internet again. And fans had the following to say about him:
bro is a girl’s girl. -@sargunoo
Ryan for president. -@fx_064
He’s for the girls. -@a.k.k.z
he would choose bear over man too. -@keerteea
He’s such a pookie. -@kushh.ff
he is enough. -@st4rkuro
As fans continue to celebrate Gosling for his perspective and unwavering support of women, it is clear that he is more than just an actor but a true celebrity and star. A progressive masculine figure, Ryan Gosling’s swoon-worthy romantic lead or making candid, thought-provoking comments, reaffirms his status not just as Hollywood’s ultimate ladies’ man, but as a genuine ally and advocate for women everywhere.
