Aqua’s iconic ‘Barbie Girl’ will not be on the soundtrack of Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Barbie film, which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in lead characters.
Despite the song not being a part of the film’s soundtrack, the Danish-Norwegian Europop band is excited for the film nonetheless.
In a recent interview, lead vocalist Lene Nystrøm said that using the group’s 1997 hit along with Aqua's debut album, Aquarium, in the film would be too on-the-nose, or “cheese on cheese.”
“I totally understand why they didn't use it, but it's going to bring us a lot of attention, no matter what,” Nystrøm said.
Keyboardist Søren Rasted, on the other hand, joked about an alternative narrative: “We should say we turned it down. Ryan Gosling is not good enough!"
Just grateful for the attention to the song the film will bring, Nystrøm added, “I totally understand why they didn’t use it, but it’s going to bring us a lot of attention, no matter what.”
Barbie Girl, which turns 25 this year, became an international phenomenon in the late ‘90s. It sold more than 1.4 million copies in the U.S. and topped the U.K. chart for a month. The song also came with some backlash, sparking criticism that it was an insult to feminism and prompting a trademark infringement lawsuit from Mattel.
“You had to watch what you were saying all the time, sometimes our words were twisted," Nystrøm said of the lawsuit.
The upcoming Barbie film is directed by Greta Gerwig and co-written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling lead the cast as Barbie and Ken.
In addition to them, the film also stars America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Issa Rae, Hari Nef, and Ncuti Gatwa. Plot details have not yet been revealed.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.