Even though itonly won one Academy Award, the biggest movie of 2023,Barbie, continues to prove its cultural staying power. And not just because of that Oscar performance fromRyan Gosling, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor alongside co-starAmerica Ferrerafor Best Supporting Actress. Aside fromGosling’s scene-stealing Ken,Barbiefeaturedseveral doll creations Mattel really hoped you had scrubbed from your memory.Many of these maligned Mattel fashionistas aredelightfully infamous. There’sAllan (Michael Cera), the lone outcast among a sea of Kens, and the “Happy Family” version ofMidge (Emerald Fennell), whose pregnant belly recalls the chest-buster scene fromAlienmore than it does a living human woman.
And we would be remiss not to relate to and want to cosplayKate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie. Or fawn over the chic stylings of Earring Magic Ken (Tom Stourton), who said “gay rights” and supposedlyturned a decent profit for it. But noKen variantleft movie theaters howling with laughter more than one bewildering, misguided, and geniously self-aware knock-off: Sugar Daddy Ken, played by comedianRob Brydon. Where onRuth Handler’s pink planet Earth did this guy come from, andhow did he sneak past Mattel executives?That’s the mystery begging to be solved.
A beloved doll, known for her perfect life in an idyllic, colorful world, finds herself on an unexpected journey when she starts to feel out of place. Seeking answers, she leaves her fantastical home and steps into the real world, where she experiences the highs and lows of human life. With the help of new friends, she navigates the challenges of identity and purpose, discovering the importance of authenticity and inner strength.
‘Barbie’s Sugar Daddy Ken Has a Complicated History
Please note the lack of a possessive when referring to the “Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken” doll. Despite owning an adorable white floof of a dog named Sugar,this Kendoesn’t stoop low enough to go by “Sugar’s Daddy.” He rocks the slick, sweet, and solo version of “Sugar” — even though anABC Newsreport suggestshe did begin life as “Sugar’s Daddy.” But pop culture dropped that apostrophe hotter than a 2004Snoop Doggsong, and the rest is fabulous, fashionable history.Mattel released the dapper gentleman that is Sugar Daddy Ken in 2009as a special edition doll exclusive to the Barbie 50th anniversary line, and onereportedly meant to appeal to adult collectors. Sold for a whopping $82, because capitalism, the brand described this dashing example of sultry sophistication as “exemplifies fantastic Palm Beach fashion." Because Palm Beach fashion is something society wants to collectively revisit, right? Not.
This Ken’s origins (and his eyebrow-raising name of suggestive connotations) date back to photographerSlim Aarons’ “Palm Springs Party” collections from the 1970s. Aarons captured the glamorous lives of rich urbanites in all their paisley-colored, checker-patterned, bell-bottomed, bouffant-haired glory. Some napped on the beach near picturesque palm trees while wearing swimsuit ensembles. Others congregated in backyards with drinks in hand, bedecked in clashing colors gone wild. (1970s fashion took one look at color theory and tossed it in the trash.)
This ‘Barbie’ Actress Led a Teen Dramedy Series With Jodie Comer
Before becoming plastic and fantastic, she was just a British kid trying to get through her teenage years!
In one picture, a man in a bright green polka-dot suit jacket, pressed white pants, and white shoes (just like Sugar Daddy Ken’s swanky get-up) chats with several women. Sugar Daddy Ken boldly took his style one step further than his inspiration byshedding the tie and adding a pink dress shirt. And let’s not forget the real life of the party: those luscious gray locks. That alone suggeststhis Ken is older than his regular counterparts. As for Sugar, the dog that Sugar Daddy is (supposedly) named for, the Westie pup knows its accessorizes; Sugar’s leash and collar are also pink.
Why Did Mattel Allow Sugar Daddy Ken To Be Made?
Presumably, someone in theMattel design department decided to have fun, and somehow management approved the move (for a while, at least). The public enjoyed themselves at Sugar Daddy Ken’s expense, too. The 2009ABC Newspiece discussed the doll’s controversial reception by quoting a blog post entitled"Mattel Has Lost Their Minds." The writer of this iconic piece exclaimed, “This is like one of those jokes Barbies art students do in college to criticize gender roles forced on children by their toys, like Hobo Barbie and Pregnant Trailer Trash Barbie. Except this time Mattel made it. It’s official. My world is rocked.”
The notably protective Mattel tried to dissuade everyone’s dirty minds with an officialNew York Poststatement: “He’s Sugar’s Daddy,” the announcement said, “as a reference to the dog.” Mattel spokesperson Michelle Chidoni further told ABC, “At the end of the day, this collection is targeted toward adults. While the name of the doll does refer back to the dog, I think people are going to interpret it as they want to interpret it.” Explanations aside, the impeccably coifed and cuffed dandy wasdiscontinued within a year and became a collector’s item. So if you’re longing for a Sugar Daddy Ken (ahem) of your own, be wary — he’s an elusive find.Entertainment Earth’s product page slapped him with an ominous disclaimer of “this item is cancelled and no longer available to order.” Whoops. I guess this Sugar Daddyjust wasn’t Kenough.
Margot Robbie Is a Huge Rob Brydon Fan
Welsh actor and comedianRob Brydon plays the movie version of Sugar Daddy KeninGreta Gerwig’s record-breaking blockbuster. One of the stars behind the hit BBC sitcomGavin & Stacey,Brydon saidhe was“relieved” that his Ken’s double entendre name wasn’t intentional. (The jokes write themselves, folks!) Brydon also shared how he joined theBarbiecast. The actor had previously recorded a birthday message forproducer and lead actress Margot Robbie, who happens to be aGavin & Staceysuperfan. In turn,Robbie toldCosmopolitanUKshe was determined to bring Brydon aboard. Brydon’s cameo might be small, but his appearance as Sugar Daddy Ken will probably have a longer shelf life than his poor plastic counterpart ever did — and increase the doll’s eBay prices. It’s a suitably happy ending forone of the creations both Matteland the fictional Barbieland relegated to the “weird” house. After all,older Kens just wanna have fun, too!
