Timothée Chalamet has claimed nobody cares about ballet or opera.
The Marty Supreme star, 30, said he was not interested in working in ballet or opera because “no one cares about this anymore”, during a discussion with actor Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas in Austin.
He said: “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.’ All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there.”
Laughing, the actor added: “I just lost 14 cents in viewership. I just took shots for no reason.”
His comments triggered uproar online.
Isabelle Leonard, an American opera singer, said she felt, “shocked that someone so seemingly successful can be so ineloquent and narrow-minded in his views about art while considering himself as [an] artist”.
Singer Deepa Johnny, who has performed with the Canadian Opera Company, said: “What a disappointing take. There is nothing more impressive than the magic of live theatre, ballet and opera.
“We should be trying to uplift these art forms, these artists and come together across disciplines to do that. The impact of these mediums are long-lasting and life-changing.”
Leonid Khrapunsky, a ballet dancer, replied to an Instagram video of Chalamet making the remarks to say: “Maybe if you learn some gestures from ballet and voice control from opera, you might become a better screen actor.”
Jimmy López, a Peruvian classical music composer, wrote: “Opera and ballet will continue to thrive long after any memory of who you were has faded.”
Dean Murphy, a baritone singer, added: “Opera has been around since the 16th century and is still alive and well today … I think that speaks volumes. What a shame that you don’t have respect for other art forms … which of course have also greatly influenced movies…”
LA Opera said that it would offer Chalamet free tickets to Akhnaten, an opera by composer Philip Glass, but the performance was almost sold out.
“There are a few seats left to purchase if you hurry,” the institution added.
The Metropolitan Opera in New York posted a video showing their musicians and craftsmen behind the scenes, writing: “All respect to the opera (and ballet) people out there.” In a caption, they added: “This one’s for you, Timothée Chalamet.”
Responding to the actor’s remarks, the Royal Ballet and Opera said: “Ballet and opera have never existed in isolation – they have continually informed, inspired, and elevated other art forms. Their influence can be felt across theatre, film, contemporary music, fashion, and beyond.
“For centuries, these disciplines have shaped the way artists create and audiences experience culture, and today millions of people around the world continue to enjoy and engage with them.”
Aaron S Watkin, the artistic director of the English National Ballet, said Chalamet was incorrect and that many people care deeply about opera and dance.
He said: “Timothée would be very welcome at one of our performances to experience the profound emotional impact of ballet for himself.”
State funding for opera and ballet in Britain has been cut in recent years.
A report on opera produced by the Arts Council England in 2024 found that the art form would struggle in the future as a result of rising costs, the post-Covid recovery period, Brexit, and huge local authority cutbacks.
Dr Andrew McBirnie, the examinations director at the Royal Academy of Dance, claimed in 2018 that children no longer have the discipline to practise ballet.
“This is out of step with the sense that you can be an overnight sensation because you have a talent that magically appears,” he said. “We are in a culture where there is a lot of distraction and we expect a quick reward.”