While Barbie is away, Ken is listing his room in her iconic Malibu DreamHouse on Airbnb, complete with waterslide, infinity pool, disco dancefloor and Kendom Salon. Jenny Southan reports
To tie in with the premier of the new Greta Gerwig-directed Barbie movie this summer, Ken is inviting two lucky guests to stay – for free – in the newly revamped oceanside Malibu DreamHouse via Airbnb. (In 2019, the same privately-owned property was listed on Airbnb for US$60 a night.)
Although it’s Barbie’s house (played by Margot Robbie in the film), her boyfriend Ken (played by Ryan Gosling), is the host. And he’s left quirky personal touches for guests to find including a barbecue with plastic food, pool floaties that spell out his name and an outdoor gym with a barrel of “Beefy body brine” fitness supplement.
Ken states on the Airbnb listing: “There’s so much stuff to do – some days, I’m not sure what to do first. I mean, do you catch waves before or after firing up the grill? And how do you know when to visit the horses?”
For Barbie fans, the chance to stay in her life-size, toy-inspired home will surely prove that “life in plastic, is fantastic”. (The proposition also taps into the emerging trends for “Barbiecore” and “Limelight Gaycations“.) There will be the chance to sleep in Ken’s cowboy-themed boudoir, play his hot-pink electric guitar, and swim in the infinity pool.
Located in sunny Malibu, the sea-facing mansion features panoramic views and serves as the perfect backdrop for Ken’s picture-plastic paradise.
“We all have dreams, and Barbie is lucky enough to have a house full of them,” says Ken. “But now, it’s my turn, and I can’t wait to host guests inside these one-of-a-kind – dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? – digs.”
Fans will be able to request to book Ken’s bedroom in the Malibu DreamHouse for two individual one-night stays for up to two guests each on July 21 and July 22, 2023. All stays will be free of charge – “because Ken couldn’t figure out how to put a price on Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse – after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math,” quips Airbnb.
While in the DreamHouse, guests will have the opportunity to live in technicolor by:
- Taking a spin through Ken’s awesome wardrobe to find their best beach fit.
- Channeling their inner cowboy and learning a line dance or two on Ken’s outdoor disco dance floor.
- Challenging their fellow guests to a “beach off” with plenty of sunbathing and chillaxing by the infinity pool.
- Taking home a piece of the Kendom with their very own set of yellow-and-pink Impala skates and surfboards.
Wannabe guests can request to book Ken’s room in Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse from July 17 at 10am PT at airbnb.com/kendreamhouse. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Malibu.