Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet is in hot water.
Just days before the 98th Academy Awards, the Hollywood star is facing bitter criticism from the performing arts community. This comes after Chalamet made disparaging comments about ballet and opera.
During a public conversation with his on-screen father, Matthew McConaughey, at the University of Texas, Chalamet decided to heat things up. It started with a quaint conversation about the future of cinema, but the discussion took a controversial turn. Artists from the performing arts community reacted swiftly and strongly in defence of their craft.
The clip spread like wildfire online, and the conversation went beyond Hollywood.
The Comment That Started the Controversy
In a discussion about the need to preserve cinema culture, Timothée Chalamet spoke on the importance of maintaining vibrance and appreciation for film. In an effort to make a point, he compared it to other art forms that he claimed struggle to maintain public interest.
“I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore,” Chalamet said.
Perhaps realising the distasteful nature of his comments, he attempted to soften the blow by saying, “All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there.”
The remark spread across multiple media platforms as artists and audiences were taken aback by the callousness of the statement.
Artists Push Back Against the Statement
Performers and creatives have sharply responded to the comments made by Timothée Chalamet. They underscored the value and cultural impact that ballet and opera continue to bring to the arts.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis pointed out the manner in which artists tend to criticise one another. In an Instagram post, she wrote: “Why are any artists taking shots at any other artists?” Similarly, Jazz singer Laufey took to Instagram to boost posts criticising Chalamet and posted a series of stories appreciating the role ballet and opera play in her career as a musician.
Ballet Community Defends Its Relevance
Ballet performers and choreographers were quick to defend themselves. They emphasised that ballet attracts audiences worldwide and remains culturally relevant. The English National Ballet pointed out that 200,000 people attended its performances.
Opera organisations chose to respond with humour. Instead of vilifying Timothée Chalamet, they decided to use the viral moment to promote their work. The Seattle Opera launched a special promotion linked to the viral moment. The company offered a 14% discount on tickets for its upcoming performance of Carmen. To make things clear, the promotional code was “TIMOTHEE.” The organisation welcomed Chalamet to avail the discount too.
Will This Hurt Chalamet’s Oscar Chances?
In the original interview, Timothée Chalamet seemed aware that his words might result in backlash. Shortly after making the comment, he joked about the potential reaction. “I just lost 14 cents in viewership,” Chalamet said. “I just took shots for no reason.”
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Chalamet is yet to issue a formal response. However, it is worth noting that Chalamet’s Oscar chances have not been jeopardised as the remarks were made in February and the ballots have already been cast. Whether Chalamet wins Best Actor or not is something that was decided long before the interview was published.
For now, the controversy raises the need for a broader discussion about the need to elevate appreciation for the performing arts in Hollywood.
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