Timothée Chalamet sparked outrage after he said ‘no one cares about ballet, opera
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Timothée Chalamet is facing backlash from the ballet and opera communities after comments suggesting “no one cares” about the centuries-old art form.
In a video from the “CNN and Variety Town Hall Event” uploaded on Feb. 24, the 30-year-old actor and Matthew McConaughey discuss the industry’s growing trend for movies to frontload their “big action episodes” instead of saving those plans until the end.
Chalamet noted that he has seen an appetite, especially among younger audiences, for films that are “patient and draw you in,” citing Netflix’s 2025 hit “Frankenstein” as an example.
“You have to raise a flag that says, ‘Hey, this is a serious movie,’ or something, and some people want to be entertained and immediately,” the “Dune” star said.
“I’m absolutely right in the middle, Matthew. I love people, and I’ve done it myself, who go on a talk show and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to keep the 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,’ like ‘Oppenheim’ comes out and goes up, I’m proud of it.”
“I don’t want to work in ballet, or opera, or things like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though nobody cares anymore,'” Chalamet said.
Timothée Chalamet has been criticized after saying that “nobody cares” about ballet and opera. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)
“All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there,” he added with a laugh.
Chalamet seemed to realize that his outlandish comments may have cost him a good deal of audience members, joking, “I just lost 14 cents in the audience. I just snapped for no reason.”
The Oscar nominee’s remarks drew criticism from prominent figures and organizations in the ballet and opera worlds when they began circulating online earlier this week.
The Oscar nominee made the comments during a recent town hall event with Matthew McConaughey. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
The Metropolitan Opera responded to Chalamet’s Instagram comments, which featured backstage photos of costumers, set designers and singers preparing to perform, showcasing the creativity and collaboration of opera.
“All respect to the opera (and ballet) people out there,” the Met Opera captioned the video, referencing Chalamet’s words.
The agency went on to call out the actor directly, writing, “This is yours, @tchalamet…”
The Royal Ballet and Opera uploaded a video to social media that began with an audio clip of Chalamet’s comments on scenes from the performance and backstage. The video then reaches a full audience as the words “We Care” appear on the screen.
“Every night at the Royal Opera House, thousands of people gather for ballet and opera,” the organization wrote in a statement. “For the music. For the storytelling. For the great magic of live performance. If you’d like to reconsider, @tchalemet, our doors are open.”
The organization also released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, writing, “Ballet and opera have never existed alone – they have continuously informed, inspired, and elevated other art forms. Their influence can be felt throughout theater, film, contemporary music, fashion, and beyond.”
LA Opera also took a swipe at Chalamet on Instagram in a post touting the success of their ongoing production of “Akhnaten,” writing, “Sorry, @tchalemet We could have given you free tickets to Akhnaten, but they are selling out. Only a few seats left if you hurry.”
The Seattle Opera had an indirect response to Chalament, offering ticket increases based on his comments. “All we have to say is… use promo code TIMOTHEE to save 14% off select Carmen seats, this weekend only.”
“Timmy, you’re welcome to use it too,” the caption said. “See you at the opera!”
Timothée Chalamet at the 83rd Annual Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 11, 2026, in Beverly Hills. (Gilbert Flores/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, many famous musicians took to social media to express their dismay at Chalamet’s comments.
Grammy Award-winning opera singer Isabel Leonard commented on an article from Variety featuring McConaughey’s interview with Chalament, writing, “Honestly, I’m shocked that someone who seems so successful can be so outspoken and narrow-minded in his views on art while considering himself an artist as I would have thought someone could be an actor.
He continued, “Taking cheap shots at other artists says more in this interview than anything else he could have said. It shows a lot about his character. You don’t have to like all art but only a weak person/artist who feels the need to slow down actually ALL art would encourage those who like to slow down, to do just that.”
Brazilian ballet dancer Victor Caixeta Ballet also criticized Chalamet, writing, “Ballet and opera have been around for centuries. Let’s see if your films are still being watched in 300 years.”
In a video on Instagram, New York City Ballet principal dancer Megan Fairchild explained that she objected to Chalamet’s suggestion that she deliberately chose acting over ballet and opera.
“It’s not even the idea that he rejected ballet and opera that worries me; it’s the suggestion that he had the talent and ability to pursue these Olympic-level arts in the first place,” he said.
“Timmy, I didn’t realize you were a world-class dancer or opera singer who just chose not to pursue it because acting is so popular! Ballet and opera are not ordinary hobbies that people choose to pursue for fame. They are an education you can only enter if you have a rare talent for them in the first place.”
The actor’s comments drew criticism from prominent figures in the ballet and opera communities. (Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)
In the text, Fairchild also addressed Chalamet’s past comments about his family’s ties to the ballet world while also noting how he was spotted out and about wearing a New York City baseball cap in January.
“We forgive you, @tchalamet,” he wrote. “We know you love @nycballet — we saw the hat. And your lovely sister is watching our rehearsal.
In a December 2025 interview, Chalamet recalled growing up in ballet in his family, noting that his grandmother, mother Nicole Flender and sister Pauline Chalamet were dancers.
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“My grandmother danced in the New York City Ballet, my mother danced in the New York City Ballet, my sister danced in the New York City Ballet. I grew up dreaming of the big backstage at the Koch Theater in New York. […] I’m like a Venn diagram of the best cultural influences of the 21st and 20th centuries,” he said in a clip posted by a fan account.
Other Hollywood stars who are with Chalamet also expressed their disapproval of his comments, including Jamie Lee Curtis, who also posted a video shared by actor Zach McNally, where he expressed his disappointment with Chalamet’s words.
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Chalamet’s defenders argued that the actor’s comments were not a mistake. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
However, despite the overwhelming response from the ballet and opera communities, some internet commentators defended Chalamet’s stance, saying he was commenting on audience trends rather than the value of ballet or opera.
“Look I’m a supporter of the arts, a big fan of that, but it’s clear what Timothee Chalamet was trying to say,” one X user wrote. “It’s about engaging the audience. He didn’t say this very well. I say this as someone who LOVES ballet and sees beauty in opera.”
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“Timothee Chalamet did nothing wrong,” agreed another. “I’m part of the remaining audience of ballet and opera. They are not popular artforms today. Film was the main platform of the 20th century. There is no guarantee that it will continue. You show the right concern for the future of cinema.”
“Y’all, come on. I used to work for an opera company. My checks – I needed to pay rent – bounced more than once,” said a social media user. “As an aside, Timothée Chalamet is right: very few people care about opera. It’s sad, but that’s the truth.”
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On Friday, the New York Times published an op-ed titled “Timothée Chalamet Has a Point About Ballet,” which said that while Chalamet’s opinion is “not completely out of place,” the actor was not wrong.
“Chalamet’s point was not that ballet and opera are irrelevant, but that they are not part of mainstream culture,” the op-ed said. “You’ve been dismissing the roles of these art forms in our society, and you’re wrong? The value of ballet and opera, and people’s perception all around their importance, they are two different things.”
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