Warner Bros.
- Not everyone is a fan of Greta Gerwig's much-anticipated film, "Barbie."
- Some commentators have taken issue with its portrayal of feminism and anti-patriarchal themes.
- Elon Musk appeared to join in the criticism around Gerwig's "Barbie" in a tweet.
"Barbie" may be storming the box office, but not everyone is a fan of Greta Gerwig's new pink-obsessed epic.
The movie has been criticized by some — mainly conservative figures — as being "woke" and "anti-man." The film has proved a particular sore spot for commentators such as Ben Shapiro who have taken issue with the film's portrayal of modern feminism and themes of male fragility.
Tesla boss Elon Musk also appears to have bought into some of the backlash. "It you take a shot every time Barbie says the word "patriarchy", you will pass out before the movie ends," Musk said on Twitter, in response to a user's meme.
Republican Florida congressman Matt Gaetz and his wife Ginger have gone further and called for people to boycott the film.
Ginger Gaetz said on Twitter that the movie "neglects to address any notion of faith or family, and tries to normalize the idea that men and women can't collaborate positively (yuck)."
—Ginger Gaetz (@LuckeyGinger) July 18, 2023
Representatives for Musk did not respond to Insider's request for further comment with an answer that addressed the question.
Musk has aligned himself with some conservative figures in the past.
The billionaire has a history of sharing anti-trans content and has repeatedly railed against decisions he considered to be "woke." Last month, he told users that terms like "cisgender" and "cis" were considered "slurs" on Twitter.
Musk has declared himself a "free-speech absolutist" and has allowed several previously banned accounts back on Twitter since he acquired the platform in October. The list of reinstated accounts includes self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate who's said he received money under Musk's new content-creation scheme.