Ever since the first picture of Ryan Gosling as Ken was released to promote the Barbie movie, the actor has yet to be kicked off his ‘internet boyfriend’ throne. Ken was welcomed with swoons and open arms. The warm reception has only increased with each additional teaser, trailer and exclusive clip (he has a song, guys, an actual full-length musical number).
Now, with Barbie’s release looming large (July 21, in case you forget), Ken is already emerging as the true star of the show. Reviews have marked Ryan Gosling as a stand out from the film, calling him a “scene stealer, delivering most of the laughs,” citing that it was a role Gosling was “born to play”. Which is not to say anything negative about Margot Robbie’s performance, which is also being praised, but it is making one thing clear: there’s just something about himbos.
In case you don’t know, a himbo is essentially the male equivalent to a bimbo: dumb, beautiful, harmless. Like the human equivalent of a golden retriever. Hell, himbos have even taken the form of actual golden retrievers before (see: the well-intentioned, handsome doofus Mr Peanutbutter in Bojack Horseman, who is a literal dog-man hybrid).
There’s been a time and a place for himbos before in popular culture. Notably around the 2000s: think Fred in the live action Scooby Doo movie, played by Freddie Prinze Jr, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani in Friends, or Ashton Kutcher in, er, anything.
And if you know anything about the 2000s, you’ll know that it is back in a big way - there’s nothing from the era of Y2K that’s safe from the grappling hands of Gen Z these days, who have resurrected everything from low rise waistlines and tramp stamps to flip phones and wearing skirts on top of jeans (yes, really).
So, after an era of loving smart men - like the bilingual, waifish Timothee Chalamet, the astute, quick-witted John Boyega, or the progressive, method types that fronted Succession and actually understood the business words they were being forced to say – we’re ready to play dumb again.
And it’s not as degrading as it sounds – for either party. “Putting it quite simply, a Himbo is the exact opposite of toxic masculinity,” says Dr Elesha Vooght, a sexual wellness and relationships expert at Kandid. “They've shaken off the restrictions of what our society has deemed a man ‘should be’, and instead choose to be exactly who they wish to be.
“They're wholesome, kind and eager to make people's days better. They refuse to be complicated, which in a world of ghosting, exclusivity and complicated dating woes, is a relief.” Himbos are, lovingly, devoid of pretentiousness: they’ll never lecture you on the lack of sulfites in natural wine, or try to mansplain feminism to you.
Yes, they may be stereotypically attractive, and often muscular (see: Chris Hemsworth as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic University, Phil Dunster as Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso. Even smiley, puppy-coded singer Harry Styles fits the bill, somewhat) but Dr Vooght says the key is that a Himbo never abuses his physical prowess and power. “It often means that they’re sexy without being sexually agressive,” she explains. “They're happy being in the support role when you're trying to take over the world.
“Given all this, it's easy to see why himbos are so adored,” Vooght adds. “They are strong, caring and unashamed of who they are, which I think is the best compliment you could give someone.”
