Lenny Kravitz is taking on an unexpected role after toy company Mattel named him its second-ever Kenbassador. The Lenny Kravitz Is Rocking A New Role As Mattel’s Newest Kenbassador first appeared on The Blast
Ken is celebrating 65 years, and Mattel has found a rock star to help mark the occasion. Lenny Kravitz has been named the toy company’s second-ever Kenbassador, giving the Grammy-winning musician a new role in the world of Barbie. The unexpected partnership puts Kravitz in the spotlight as Mattel celebrates more than six decades of Barbie’s male companion.
Mattel Announces Lenny Kravitz As Its Second Kenbassador
On September 17, Mattel and Lenny Kravitz revealed the rock star’s new role as the second-ever Kenbassador.
In a short video posted on social media, the singer tosses bootleg denim jeans, a cowl-neck tank top, a belt, boots, a necklace and sunglasses on a staircase before revealing the Lenny Kravitz Ken doll. The camera zooms out, showing Kravitz standing over his doll, with both dressed in matching outfits and accessories.
A week before the announcement, Kravitz teased the collaboration by posting a photo of his doll’s tattooed arm while holding out a setlist.
“Barbie is an institution, and as a kid growing up, I could not have imagined this. To be chosen by Mattel as a Kenbassador, only the second one in history, is an honor and absolutely surreal,” said Kravitz in a statement, per Rolling Stone.
Mattel Honors The Singer’s Music And Style
The release of Kravitz’s doll coincides with Ken’s 65th anniversary.
Ken, full name Kenneth Sean Carson, was first introduced in 1961, two years after the Barbie doll’s launch. Like Barbie, Ken was created by Ruth Handler in response to requests for Barbie to have a romantic companion, according to TIME.
In a statement, Mattel’s Head of Barbie, Nathan Baynard, said the partnership with Kravitz celebrates the artist’s authenticity. “From his genre-defying music to his fearless approach to personal style, Lenny uses his platform to champion individuality while empowering others to do the same,” Baynard noted.
Lenny Kravitz Explains Creative Choices Behind His Doll’s Style
Kravitz finds it “so cool” to have his own doll, saying it never crossed his mind to have one made. He commended Mattel for the attention to detail and was impressed at how they replicated the tattoo of his mom’s portrait on his arm.
As for his doll’s fashion choice, the singer said it made sense to dress it in clothes he’s been wearing for his Blue Electric Light Tour, which kicked off in June 2024 and is currently on its third leg. “We got it down to all the details of the boots and the jeans and the belt with the holes and the rivets and the tops that I’ve been wearing,” he told PEOPLE.
The pair of sunglasses was modeled after the same vintage ones he’s had from the 1960s, and the necklace was created in the likeness of the one he wears, which once belonged to his mother, actress Roxie Roker.
- Margot Robbie addressed her “Barbie” Oscars snub.
- Ryan Gosling revealed that his iconic “I’m Just Ken” Oscar performance almost didn’t happen.
- Robert Downey Jr. believed Margot Robbie didn’t get “enough credit” for her Barbie role.
- “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig addressed Jo Koy’s “Barbie” jokes at the Golden Globes.
- The movie’s sequel has reportedly stalled over salary disputes.
LeBron James Was The First Kenbassador
Basketball legend LeBron James was named the first Kenbassador in 2025.
“Barbie is teaming up with the LeBron James Family Foundation to release the first Ken® doll of a professional athlete, LeBron James, to recognize his positive impact on culture, style, and community,” the press release read.
For every LeBron James Kenbassador doll sold at Target, Mattel donated a copy of the athlete’s book, “I Am More Than” to the Save the Children organization.
Kravitz’s collaboration with Mattel will reportedly benefit the singer’s non-profit organization, the Let Love Rule Foundation, which focuses on providing medical care, disaster relief, and food assistance. The Barbie Signature Kenbassadors Lenny Kravitz Ken Doll retails for $70.
Lenny Kravitz’s Tour Is Wrapping Up
After two years on the road, Kravitz’s tour is coming to a close, with a final performance at Central Park’s Great Lawn on September 26.
“I’ve been touring for two and a half years now on this album,” Kravitz said, referring to his 12th studio album, “Blue Electric Light,” released in May 2024. “We’re coming to a close. [The doll] marks this time and this tour, which has been really incredible for me. I think it’s the best tour of my career,” the singer said.
The Lenny Kravitz Is Rocking A New Role As Mattel’s Newest Kenbassador first appeared on The Blast
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