Timothée Chalamet has drawn criticism from the ballet and opera communities after stating during a town hall event that 'no one cares' about those art forms anymore. Several opera companies and performers have responded with invitations to attend shows and pointed critiques of his remarks. The comments were made in the context of discussing the future of movie theaters.
Timothée Chalamet, a four-time Oscar nominee and star of 'Marty Supreme,' made the remarks during 'A CNN & Variety Town Hall Event' while speaking with Matthew McConaughey. He expressed a balanced view on the popularity of movie theaters, noting the success of films like 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' as evidence that audiences support what interests them. However, he added, 'I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera, or things where it’s like, “Hey, keep this thing alive.” Even though it’s like, no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there.'
The comments, delivered on March 7, 2026, quickly prompted responses from the performing arts world. London's Royal Ballet and Opera posted on Instagram, stating, 'Every night at the Royal Opera House, thousands of people gather for ballet and opera. For the music. For the storytelling. For the sheer magic of live performance. If you’d like to reconsider, [Timothée Chalamet], our doors are open.' The English National Opera similarly invited him via Instagram, offering 'free tickets on us to help you fall back in love with opera anytime' and adding, 'We’d love to change your mind.'
The Metropolitan Opera shared a video montage of its production work, captioned 'This one’s for you, @tchalamet…' In a lighter response, the Seattle Opera promoted its production of 'Carmen' with a 14% discount using the promo code 'TIMOTHEE,' writing, 'All we’ve got to say is… use promo code TIMOTHEE to save 14% off select seats for Carmen, through this weekend only. Timmy, you’re welcome to use it too. See you at the opera!'
Individual performers also weighed in. Colombian ballet dancer Fernando Montaño shared a letter on Instagram, writing, 'Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes human beings can make is to compare themselves with others, or to compare one form of expression with another. Comparison rarely allows true understanding; instead, it limits growth and prevents people from developing their own talents and perspectives.' London-based dancer Anna Yliaho commented, 'only an insecure artist tears down another discipline to elevate their own.' Representatives for Chalamet did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
