On Feb. 24, CNN and Variety Town Hall posted their controversial interview with actor Matthew McConaughey, featuring actor Timothee Chalamet. During the interview Chalamet claimed that he “wouldn’t want to be working in ballet or opera,” because “nobody cares about it anymore.”
Following the release of Marty Supreme, in which Chalamet plays the main character, Marty Mouser, Chalamet has been on a long press tour promoting his movie and himself in preparation for the 2026 Oscars.
Chalamet has made several appearances on various talk shows and he appeared on Druski’s talent show hosted in New York City which was featured on Youtuber, Druski’s, channel.
Two weeks before the event and in the midst of academy voting, CNN posted the interview featuring Chalamet in which he spoke about the struggles of theaters and getting people to go watch a movie in person.
Chalamet then followed up with a comment about how he doesn’t want to be in an industry that needs to be allowed to die off without people desperately trying to “keep it alive.” Chalamet used ballet and opera as an example of his point saying, “no one cares about this anymore.”
This shocked fans and sent social media in an uproar as fans quickly pointed out that both Chalamet’s mother, Nicole Flender, and older sister, Pauline Chalamet, are former ballerinas. His mother attended Yale on a ballet scholarship, went to the School of American Ballet, and danced with New York City Ballet, while his sister attended a prestigious ballet school in New York.
This outrage sparked a trend in which creators would post pictures of themselves within their sport or a montage of their accolades collected via opera or ballet with the caption, “go back to being a quiet frenchboy,” in reference to Chalamet’s previous roles and social media persona.
Fans credit the comments “I just lost 14 cents in viewership,” said by Chalamet, as their ultimate nail in the coffin. Chalamet is referring to the viewership commission he earns per viewer and by losing 14 cents he is referencing the monetary loss his comment incurs as people click off his video. Fans point out his arrogant behavior and complete disregard for modesty labeling his previously “inspiring” and “focused” personality now as “shallow” and “unprofessional.”
Pop singer, Doja Cat, took to ballet and opera’s defense releasing a video on her TikTok page describing the age and cultural significance of the practices. She ridiculed him even mispronouncing his name to emphasize her outrage towards his “nerve” to use his platform to dismiss and ridicule a beautiful form of expression, entertainment, and artistic medium. “The dancers care, the singers care, the audience cares, people care. It doesn’t matter if the industry has a tough time, your industry has a tough time, doesn’t mean people don’t care,” Doja said. This emphasizes the importance of respecting all forms of art even when they’re “having a tough time.”
Social media users have also pointed out the loss of Chalamet’s role of “Peter Parker” in Spider-man being attributed to the ultimate choice, Tom Holland, possessing a diverse and extensive background in dance and ballet, making Holland the more physically suited actor. Highlighting Chalamet’s hypocrisy and the importance of dance, specifically ballet in his field.
Similarly, attacks coming from the stage at the Oscars, “Security is extremely tight tonight,” host Conan O’Brien said. “I’m told there’s concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.” Chalamet then went on to lose the “best actor award” leaving fans to speculate whether his recent controversies were to blame and with no published or speculated apology statement from Chalamet, social media has relentlessly shown their displeasure for his “distasteful” comments.
