Actor Timothée Chalamet ignited controversy after comments he made about ballet and opera at a recent University of Texas event, where he discussed cinema and the significance of sustaining movie theaters. During the conversation, Chalamet expressed reluctance to work in disciplines like ballet or opera, implying that these art forms require a constant effort to “keep this thing alive,” suggesting to him that audiences have largely lost interest in them.
Chalamet said,
“People, when I’ve done it myself, do go on a talk show and go, ‘Hey, we’ve got to keep movie theaters alive. We’ve got to keep this genre alive.’ And another part of me feels like if people want to see it, like Barbie or Oppenheimer, they’re going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it. And I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive,’ even though no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost $0.14 in viewership. Damn, I just took shots for no reason,”
Chalamet explained.
Performing Arts Communities Respond to Chalamet’s Criticism
Chalamet’s remarks quickly met with backlash from fans of the performing arts and several renowned cultural institutions. The Metropolitan Opera in New York shared a video celebrating the complex teamwork behind opera productions, including musicians, costume designers, and set creators. The post tagged Chalamet and paid homage, stating,
“All respect to the opera (and ballet) people out there,”
adding,
“this one’s for you, Timothée Chalamet.”
@metopera posted,
“This one’s for you, Timothée Chalamet… 👀 #opera #classicalmusic #theater #art #culture ♬ original sound – MetOpera.”
Following suit, Australia’s The Australian Ballet entered the conversation with a video showcasing their artists performing from a classic ballet, captioning it,
“We love working in ballet and wouldn’t change it for the world,”
to affirm their passion and dedication despite the actor’s claims.
@ausballet responded,
“We love working in ballet and wouldn’t change it for the world 🫶 🩰 Artists of The Australian Ballet in La Bayadère (Petipa) ♬ original sound – The Australian Ballet.”
The Royal Opera House in London emphasized the vibrant appeal of ballet and opera by highlighting the nightly gatherings of thousands who appreciate live music, storytelling, and performance magic, inviting Chalamet to reconsider his stance. The institution affirmed,
“If you’d like to reconsider, @tchalamet, our doors are open.”
@royalballetandopera stated,
“Every night at the Royal Opera House, thousands of people gather for ballet and opera. For the music. For the storytelling. For the sheer magic of live performance. If you’d like to reconsider, @tchalamet, our doors are open. ✨ #TheRoyalBallet #TheRoyalOpera #RoyalBalletAndOpera ♬ original sound – Royal Ballet and Opera.”
In Europe, Milan’s La Scala contributed with a video message implying that “someone cares” about opera and ballet, encouraging more people to experience these art forms in person. The English National Opera also extended an open invitation to Chalamet, offering complimentary tickets to attend performances.
@teatroallascala shared,
“Someone cares ✨ And if you visit us, you might too. #teatroallascala #opera #ballet #thimoteechalamet ♬ audio originale – Teatro alla Scala.”
Opera and Ballet Organizations Use Chalamet’s Remarks in Promotional Campaigns
Several organizations cleverly transformed the backlash into promotional opportunities. Seattle Opera, referencing Chalamet’s joke about “losing 14 cents in viewership,” offered a 14% discount on tickets with the promo code TIMOTHEE. Their social post warmly invited the actor to take advantage of the offer, stating,
“Timmy, you’re welcome to use it too.”
Social Media Amplifies the Debate Among Artists and Fans
The discussion rapidly expanded on social media platforms, with theater and classical music communities responding passionately. Conductor Alondra de la Parra shared a viral video message addressed to Chalamet, urging him to reconsider his views and clarifying that ballet and opera are far from fading art forms. Her video amassed over 6.3 million views and 1.3 million likes on TikTok.
De la Parra said,
“Hey Timothée, I’m sorry you don’t want to be a part of this. Maybe you want to reconsider. And we’re not trying to ‘keep it alive’; it’s pretty much alive,”
before conducting the orchestra.
@alodlp captioned,
“A little message for Timothée… #wecare #ballet #opera #foryou #timotheechalamet ♬ sonido original – Alondra de la Parra | Oficial.”
Broadway performer Jennifer Gruener shared a humorous video reaction titled
“Phantom of the Opera’s reaction to Timmy’s thoughts on ballet and opera,”
while ballet dancer Jovani Furlan posted clips from his rigorous training, captioning it,
“You wouldn’t last a day in my shoes…or my SOCKS.”
@jennifergruener shared,
“Phantom of the opera’s reaction to Timmy’s thoughts on ballet and opera #phantomoftheopera #ballet #opera @Liv Mitchell @Jordan Lee @Midori Marsh @chandlercreekfarm @David Young Fernandez @Dennis Shuman @Alexandria Shiner @Melo💖 ♬ original sound – Variety.”
Fans Weigh In on Ballet and Opera’s Enduring Cultural Value
Fans of classical performance strongly defended ballet and opera against Chalamet’s remarks, highlighting their enduring relevance. One user commented,
“Literally can’t remember the last time I saw a sold-out movie theater, but the opera house is full every time.”
Another noted,
“Timothée Chalamet has been famous for like 9 years. Opera has been thriving for 400 years. That’s like 45 Chalamets. I think I know what I’d bet on surviving longer.”
Some pointed to Chalamet’s own recent film choices, writing,
“‘no one cares about this stuff,’ says the guy who just did a ping pong movie,”
while another questioned,
“Does he really think people will be discussing Willy Wonka and that ping pong movie in 200 years?”
Others recalled that Chalamet began his career in theater and has previously spoken highly of the arts, suggesting his current comments reflect a change in attitude since achieving broader fame.
Context Ahead of Awards Season Heightens Attention on Chalamet’s Statements
The controversy arises amid elevated public interest in Timothée Chalamet, who is a prominent contender for the upcoming Academy Awards based on his recent work. Fans and commentators speculate that the backlash over his ballet and opera remarks could influence how he is perceived during the awards season, adding tension to an already intense spotlight on the actor.
