Shakira Says Her Sons “Absolutely Hated” the ‘Barbie’ Movie: “And I Agree, to a Certain Extent”

What in the world might Ted Cruz, Bill Maher, and global pop superstar Shakira have in common? Apparently, none of them were fans of last year’s Oscar-nominated, box-office-record-breaking Barbie movie.

In a new interview with Allure, the musician shared her viewpoint on female empowerment, from declaring Wonder Woman her childhood “idol” to writing filter-free music after her 2022 split from Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué, her partner of 11 years and father of their two sons—Milan, 11, and Sasha, 9. “I think there’s something refreshing about women when they get to be themselves and be unapologetic,” Shakira said. “Because we’ve had to apologize so many damn times in the past.”

When asked about her reaction to director Greta Gerwig’s overtly feminist Barbie film, Shakira was, in fact, unapologetic. “My sons absolutely hated it,” she began. “They felt that it was emasculating. And I agree, to a certain extent.” The Grammy winner continued, “I’m raising two boys. I want ‘em to feel powerful too [while] respecting women. I like pop culture when it attempts to empower women without robbing men of their possibility to be men, to also protect and provide. I believe in giving women all the tools and the trust that we can do it all without losing our essence, without losing our femininity. I think that men have a purpose in society and women have another purpose as well. We complement each other, and that complement should not be lost.”

It appears that Shakira took issue with the film’s ending, in which Ryan Gosling’s Ken is relegated to the pedestrian delights of his Mojo Dojo Casa House while Margot Robbie’s Barbie migrates to the real-world for the chance at making it on her own. “Just because a woman can do it all doesn’t mean she should?” the Allure reporter asked of Shakira’s apparent issues with the film. The singer replied, “Why not share the load with people who deserve to carry it, who have a duty to carry it as well?” Suffice it to say that it sounds like the award-winning anthem “I’m Just Ken” won’t be playing in the Shakira household anytime soon.