Timothée Chalamet’s carefully orchestrated Oscar campaign faces an unexpected threat due to controversy surrounding director Josh Safdie. The campaign, launched well before the release of Marty Supreme, is now under scrutiny amid allegations that could affect Chalamet’s standing in the 2026 awards season.
The Emergence of Josh Safdie’s Controversy
Josh Safdie, who directed Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme, has recently become embroiled in a scandal related to his work on the 2017 film Good Time. The film, co-directed by Josh and his brother Benny Safdie, featured Robert Pattinson and has now attracted renewed criticism following a report by Page Six.
The serious allegations claim that Josh Safdie acted as the commanding force on set in a way that put a 17-year-old actress at considerable risk. According to the report, despite her being underage, filming continued as she was involved in an intimate scene with Buddy Duress, an actor who had recently been released from prison and was portraying a convicted felon.
“thrust into a scene that involved nudity and simulated sex with ‘actor’ Buddy Duress during production in New York.”
— Page Six report
Benny Safdie’s Involvement and Rift with His Brother
Benny Safdie, Josh’s brother and co-director on Good Time, has reportedly played a key role in exposing the controversy. Years ago, the initial scandal surfaced but was quickly suppressed. The origins of the public fallout seem connected to Benny’s break from Josh in 2023, prompted by his discovery of the full extent of the misconduct.
This split between the brothers has coincided with diverging career paths: Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme is now a major contender in the current awards race, while Benny Safdie’s most recent project, The Smashing Machine, failed commercially and did not attract awards attention.
“Benny cutting ties with his brother in 2023 after he learned the full scope of the event.”
— Insider source
The timing of the exposé and the brothers’ creative separation has led to speculation that Benny may have been motivated by their estrangement in shedding light on Josh’s alleged misconduct.
The Potential Impact on Timothée Chalamet’s Oscar Bid
As Josh Safdie becomes the focus of growing scrutiny, questions arise about whether Timothée Chalamet’s meticulously planned Oscar campaign will suffer collateral damage. Chalamet remains the frontrunner in several award categories, including the recently renamed Actor Awards by SAG-AFTRA.
Despite the negative headlines, there is still hope his campaign can survive. The 2026 Oscars are months away, and the scandal may fade from public attention before the final voting phase begins. However, Chalamet faces a difficult decision: how actively he wants to defend the campaign while associated with controversy surrounding his director.
The 30-year-old actor’s response will likely influence his reputation in two significant ways. On one side, distancing himself from the scandal could alienate younger, progressive fans. On the other, embracing the traditional Hollywood machine might solidify his standing as a dependable figure in the industry. Ultimately, much depends on how he navigates the situation and his willingness to engage with the controversy.
If Chalamet withstands this storm linked to Josh Safdie’s actions, he could elevate his status to “Timothée Supreme,” reinforcing his place at the pinnacle of his generation. On the other hand, ignoring the scandal risks resurfacing as a recurring issue, potentially diminishing his long-term standing.
Only time will reveal how this entangled situation affects Timothée Chalamet’s Oscar campaign and whether the actor can maintain momentum amid adversity.
