Ryan Gosling's Hot Pink Suit to Perform 'I'm Just Ken' at 2024 Oscars Is a Cheeky Tribute to Marilyn Monroe (Really!)

The 'Barbie' actor took to the stage on Sunday adorned in a hot pink custom Gucci suit

Ryan Gosling performs "I'm Just Ken"; Marilyn Monroe DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND
Ryan Gosling (left) performing at the 2024 Oscars and Marilyn Monroe performing "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend.". Photo:

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty; Mary Evans/20TH CENTURY FOX/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

Pink is Ryan Gosling's best friend!

During the star's "I'm Just Ken" performance at the 2024 Oscars, he wore a pink suit that paid tribute to the the iconic pink dress Marilyn Monroe wore in her "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" video.

When Gosling, 43, took the stage on Sunday adorned in a custom Gucci suit, as revealed in an Instagram post by his stylist Mark Avery, social media users were quick to draw parallels to Monroe's unforgettable song from the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

"Will the kids get the reference?!" one user posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, alongside a video of Monroe dancing.

Ryan Gosling performs "I'm Just Ken"; Marilyn Monroe DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND
Ryan Gosling (left) and Marilyn Monroe.

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty; Mary Evans/20TH CENTURY FOX/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

In the scene from the iconic movie, the actress (who died in 1962 at age 36) captivated audiences in a stunning hot pink dress designed by William "Billy" Travilla. Her male background dancers were dressed in black suits with matching pink accents and bowties.

Similarly, in Gosling's Oscars performance, his troupe of background dancers sported black-and-white suits adorned with pink ribbons, complemented by pink bowties, hot pink socks and cowboy hats inscribed "Made especially for Ken."

"Absolutely LOVED Ryan Gosling’s live performance of #BarbieTheMovie 'I’m Just Ken' reimagined as an homage to GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES with him as the Marilyn Monroe," another user posted on X.

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Canadian actor Ryan Gosling (C) performs "I'm Just Ken" from "Barbie" onstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 10, 2024.
Ryan Gosling performing at the 2024 Oscars.

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

Among those who joined Gosling on stage dressed in suits and cowboy hats were Scott Evans, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben Adir, and Ncuti Gatwa. He was also joined on stage by Mark Ronson.

Surrounded by large cartoon Barbie heads and carried by the Kens, Gosling was later joined by guitarists Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen to conclude the epic performance. Returning to the audience, Gosling was met with enthusiasm from the crowd, including his Barbie costar America Ferrera and director Greta Gerwig, who sang along to the iconic number.

The 96th Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, are airing live Sunday from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.

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