Timothée Chalamet first took intention at ballet and opera years earlier than he advised each had been dying artforms in a latest interview.
“I used to be like, no woe is me factor, however whether or not you’re engaged on films or appearing, or pursuing your factor, I began to get the sense that (films had been), like, opera or ballet or one thing. It’s sort of like a dying artform or one thing,” Chalamet, 30, stated in the 2019 TikTok clip that resurfaced within the wake of his newest feedback.
Chalamet made these statements throughout a promotional screening for his 2019 film The King. The four-time Oscar nominee cited the cultural dialog round his hit films Name Me By Your Title and Girl Fowl as proof that cinema wasn’t fading away.
TikTok person @thealienstookover defined within the caption that they reuploaded the footage to point out that Chalamet has a historical past of denigrating opera and ballet.
“I took this video October 1st 2019,” they wrote. “I used to be excited to see this movie and we received a shock look of him in our theater. Along with his latest feedback about ballet and opera I needed to verify on my video. I assumed I remembered him saying one thing totally different. Sadly I used to be confused and he’s been pondering like this for years. Such a disappointment.”
In February, Chalamet ignited debate by seemingly dismissing ballet and opera throughout an interview with Matthew McConaughey for Selection.
“Some individuals wish to be entertained rapidly. I’m actually proper within the center,” the Marty Supreme actor admitted. “As a result of I like individuals and I’ve carried out it myself on a chat present, (saying), ‘Hey, we gotta hold film theaters alive. We gotta hold this style alive.”
He added, “One other a part of me appears like, if individuals wish to see it, like Barbielike Oppenheimerthey’re going to go see it and exit of their technique to be loud and proud about it. I don’t wish to be working in ballet or opera the place it’s like, ‘Hey, hold this factor alive, regardless that nobody cares about this anymore.’”
Chalamet seemingly realized the shade he’d thrown as a result of he rapidly supplied “all respect to the ballet and opera individuals on the market.”
“Rattling, I simply took pictures for no motive,” he joked.

Timothée Chalamet in March 2026.
Amy Sussman/Getty PhotographsHis newest feedback have confirmed to be notably eyebrow-raising for some as a result of Chalamet’s mom, Nicole Flenderis a former Broadway dancer.
It didn’t take lengthy for among the world’s most famous ballets and operas to answer Chalamet. The Metropolitan Opera shared clips by way of Instagram showcasing the expert craftwork that goes into the creation of each high-level opera efficiency.
Quoting Chalamet, the Met Opera replied on Thursday, March 5, “All respect to the opera (and ballet) individuals on the market. This one’s for you, @tchalamet.”
“He’s gonna be singing a distinct tune when the reside arts are all that’s left after AI takes over. Oh wait. He’s above singing a tune,” Tony winner Laura Benati quipped within the Met Opera’s feedback part.
The Los Angeles Opera took a distinct method by encouraging Chalamet to come back see a efficiency of Akhnaten throughout its residency within the metropolis. In the meantime, the Royal Ballet within the U.Okay. posted a tribute to its dancers.
“Each night time on the Royal Opera Home, hundreds of individuals collect for ballet and opera. For the music. For the storytelling. For the sheer magic of reside efficiency,” they wrote on Friday, March 6. “Should you’d prefer to rethink, @tchalamet, our doorways are open. ✨#TheRoyalBallet #TheRoyalOpera #RoyalBalletAndOpera.”
Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis, Dancing With The Stars professional Sharna Burgess and popstar Doja Cat have additionally proven assist for the opera and ballet communities within the wake of the controversy.
“Opera is 400 years previous. Ballet is 500 years previous,” Doja Cat, 30, clapped again by way of TikTok on Sunday, March 8. “Any individual named Timothée Chalamet — huge man, by the way in which — had the nerve to say on digital camera that no person cares about it.”
The “Agora Hills” rapper went on, “I’m certain you possibly can stroll into an opera theater proper now, seats can be stuffed out, and no person’s saying a phrase because the efficiency goes as a result of everyone has that a lot respect for it. There may be an etiquette round opera. There may be etiquette round ballet. It’s superb. It’s a tremendous theater medium. It’s f***ing stunning.”
Chalamet has not responded to the backlash.

