What is the Ryan Gosling vs. Glen Powell debate all about? Explained 

The new Ryan Gosling vs. Glen Powell debate is based on a comment by one anonymous Hollywood producer, causing quite the online debate. A story published in The Wrap on August 26, 2024, featured Glen Powell as the new 'it' star, and the whole story highlighted the main knocks in his appeal across all boards.

In trying to grant Powell more gravitas, it unfortunately, included the divisive comparison to Ryan Gosling, mentioning that Powell has broader appeal than Gosling, who, from the producer, was described as perhaps female-heavy.

Enthusiasts and fans were quick to comment on such a comment, citing it didn't pay enough respect to Gosling's variable projects and endeavors for the several demographics he could service.

As the debate went on, both actors chimed in, with Powell himself responding directly to the situation. This article will debate the origin of the debate between fans, the reactions this debate brought forth, and the positions of the two actors amidst controversy.

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The comment made by the producer and the online backlash

The controversy started when a nameless movie producer praised the rising stardom of Glen Powell in a story featured in The Wrap. He referred to him as "the biggest new star". He insisted that people now came to see films because they wanted to see him.

To exemplify this assertion, the producer pitted Powell's appeal against that of Ryan Gosling, saying Powell attracts both men and women, adding that Gosling is good only with female audiences. It immediately caught the attention of social media, where the users disagreed with the producer's assessment.

The producer's comments got them bashing on X and other similar platforms to defend Gosling. This, they said, is because Ryan Gosling has a proven track record of varied roles further capturing a wide range of audiences with films like Drive, The Nice Guys, Blade Runner 2049, and The Big Short.

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Glen Powell's response

In light of that debate, Glen Powell took to social media to weigh in on the controversy. Powell was very grateful for the praise from the producer but showed respect for Ryan Gosling with a humble remark, saying, "Gosling is a legend. I'm just Glen." As a result, this reaction worked among fans because Powell respected Gosling's work.

That too was a tightrope balance from Powell, with diplomatic handling and giving respect to the career of Gosling at the same time. The response went viral and got an incredible amount of traction among fans, who wouldn't stop raving about the comparison that the producer had drawn.

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The debate's impact on both actors

This casting debate brought into sharp relief the eclectic mix of roles and audience appeal for both Ryan Gosling and Glen Powell. The debate further illustrated the career breadth of Ryan Gosling, from critically acclaimed performances across genres to attracting wider audiences.

He has managed to put together critical acclaim with box office appeal in films like La La Land and The Big Short. His display of versatility is perhaps the finest among his contemporaries.

Meanwhile, Glen Powell has recently gained wider attention through two films, Anyone But You and Twisters; as such, he will be one of the future stars and is now developing more fans than ever. Comments by the producer meant to highlight the star appeal brought more debate on perceived bias.

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What's interesting is that an unnamed comment, even from an unnamed producer, to illustrate Powell's ascending star power got backlash; meaning Ryan Gosling has across-the-board appeal.

The fact that Powell respectfully acknowledged Gosling's career and the subsequent discussions on social media speaks volumes about the nuance in comparing celebrities and how much respect both actors command in the industry.