Image Credit: FilmMagic
Timothée Chalamet sparked outrage among fans of ballet and opera with a controversial remark. The reaction was so intense it supposedly impacted his prospects at the 2026 Oscars, where he was up for Best Actor due to his role in Marty Supreme. Michael B. Jordan ultimately took home the prize. For those just learning about the incident, here’s what Timothée stated.
Here’s the actual quote from Timmy that ignited the widespread disapproval.
What Did Timothée Chalamet Say About Ballet & Opera?
Timothée participated in a CNN & Variety Town Hall gathering alongside actor Matthew McConaughey in late February 2026, where they spoke on the condition of cinema and Timothée’s personal aspirations in the field.
“And a segment of me thinks, if people are interested, similar to Barbie, similar to Oppenheimer, they’ll make the effort to see it and will express their enthusiasm,” the A Complete Unknown star mentioned initially. “And I’m not looking to be involved in ballet or opera or areas where it’s like, let’s preserve this, even if nobody cares anymore.”
Instantly after making the statement, Timmy added quickly, “No disrespect to the ballet and opera lovers out there. I think I just lost 14 cents in views. … I just made enemies for no reason.”
What Did Ballet & Opera Performers Say Against Timothée Chalamet?
Ballet and opera followers around the globe turned to social platforms to communicate their discontent with Timothée’s remark. Among the most notable responses was that of the Metropolitan Opera, which posted a video to Instagram featuring the work that goes into developing their productions. They captioned the video, “This is for you, @tchalamet.”
Which Celebrities Responded to Timothée Chalamet’s Ballet & Opera Joke?
Quite a few stars joined the reaction against the Wonka actor, including Doja Cat. She went to TikTok to upload her response in a clip that she later deleted.
“Opera is a 400-year-old art. Ballet is a 500-year-old art,” Doja noted. “Somebody named Timothée Chalamet, a fairly famous person, dared to publicly say that nobody gives a damn about it. I’m certain you can attend an opera anytime and the seating will be full. No one will make a sound as the performance takes place because everyone acknowledges how respectable it is. There is specific conduct surrounding opera and ballet. It’s amazing. It’s a breathtaking artistic form. It’s gorgeous.”
The women on The View also shared their views on the situation, with Whoopi Goldberg noting that Timmy’s mom and sibling both have experiences in dance.
“You have a background in dance, so when you put down another person’s expression, it’s not a positive experience,” Whoopi stated. “You probably didn’t understand that it was an issue until you realized you were in trouble. Then, you made it worse with the ’14 cents’ comment. When people are upset, it will cost far more than 14 cents, so think about it. I’m just offering some friendly advice. … To me, he is still a boy. Do not apologize when you’ve already caused an insult. It doesn’t work. You can’t state, ‘This is dumb, but no disrespect.’ That’s inherently disrespectful.”