Did Timothée Chalamet’s anti-opera, ballet rant kill his 2026 Oscar bid for Marty Supreme?
Did the Marty Supreme star ever consider how the audience for live arts stacks up against the global fandom for table tennis?
What ever happened to the quiet, introspective and curly-haired Timothée Chalamet we once knew?
That’s what fans were left asking after the Marty Supreme star took aim at live art forms - chiefly ballet and opera.
“I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera, or you know, things where it’s like ‘hey, keep this thing alive’ even though it’s like no one cares about this anymore,” Chalamet told Matthew McConaughey at a CNN/Variety town hall on February 24.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“All respect to the ballet and opera people out there.”
Over the last week the clip has gained an angry trail of steam online - with many big artistic names and companies rebuking the comments of the Oscar nominated actor.
The Metropolitan Opera - the largest classical music organisation in the United States - posted a montage reel showcasing all of the work that goes into a production with the text “all respect to the opera (and ballet) people out there”, captioning the video: “This one’s for you, @tchalamet…”
Though outrage swept across seas, the UK’s Royal Ballet and Opera team struck a conciliatory tone, inviting Chalamet to witness the one of their productions, saying that thousands of people gather at the Royal Opera House every night “for the sheer magic of live performance”.
“If you’d like to reconsider, @tchalamet, our doors are open.”
In a since deleted TikTok video, rap star Doja Cat added her own criticism: “Some guy named Timothée Chalamet had the audacity. Opera is 400 years old. Ballet is 500 years old.”
And now some claim this surge of criticism will jeopardise Chalamet’s Oscar-bid, though others doubt he was ever really in with a fighting chance.
He’s up against frontrunner Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon) and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
Chalamet’s public standing has taken a hit in recent times, with his pursuit of becoming “one of the greats” leaving some fans wishing he would be a bit more subtle.
Others have praised his transparency, saying that other Hollywood performers should be more upfront about their end goal.
The Dune star has been nominated for best actor at the Oscars three times, for Call Me By Your Name (2018), A Complete Unknown (2025) and now Marty Supreme (2026), which has also scored him a nomination for best producer.
The irony in his recent comments was not lost on fans, who were quick to point out that his sister, mother and grandmother were all professional ballet dancers.
Having grown up amongst the artform, some found it surprising that Chalamet seemed in the dark about its value, or current cultural importance.
Many live theatre performers have since spoken out about the importance of experiencing art outside the discipline you are working in.
Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth posted a video of herself performing Glitter and Be Gay from Candide by Leonard Bernstein with the caption: “We’ll keep singing & dancing, don’t worry!”
Others have hit out at Chalamet over his musical theatre movie Wonka - saying if the actor expects that to last 400 years he’ll be in for a rude shock.
Performer and content creator Chris Mann said: “So as you sit there laughing about artforms that have 400 years of audiences clamouring to see them live, really think about if people are going to be watching Wonka in 400 years. Because they’re not.”
At least there have been plenty of spoof videos.
