Oscars Speakers Take Aim at Chalamet's Ballet and Opera Comments

Conan O'Brien and short film winner Alexandre Singh call out the actor's controversial remarks about the art forms.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:50am

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During the 2026 Oscars ceremony, host Conan O'Brien and short film winner Alexandre Singh made playful digs at Timothée Chalamet's previous comments dismissing ballet and opera as art forms that "no one cares about anymore." O'Brien joked about tight security due to concerns from the "opera and ballet community," while Singh subtly referenced changing society through "art, creativity, theater and ballet" in his acceptance speech.

Why it matters

Chalamet's remarks about ballet and opera had drawn significant backlash, with many criticizing the actor for dismissing the artistic merit and cultural significance of these longstanding art forms. The Oscars references highlight how Chalamet's comments remained a talking point and source of controversy even at the prestigious awards show.

The details

During his opening monologue, Oscars host Conan O'Brien poked fun at Chalamet's past comments, joking that "security is extremely tight tonight" due to "concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet community." Later, when accepting the award for best live-action short film (which was a tie), director Alexandre Singh of the film Two People Exchanging Saliva made a subtle dig at Chalamet, saying "Maybe it takes 10 years' time, but we can change society through art, through creativity, through theater and ballet" - pausing as the crowd reacted loudly, "and also cinema."

  • The 2026 Oscars ceremony took place on March 16, 2026.

The players

Timothée Chalamet

An American actor who had previously made controversial remarks dismissing the artistic merit of ballet and opera.

Conan O'Brien

The host of the 2026 Oscars ceremony who made a joke about tight security due to concerns from the "opera and ballet community" in reference to Chalamet's comments.

Alexandre Singh

The director of the short film Two People Exchanging Saliva, who subtly referenced changing society through "art, creativity, theater and ballet" in his Oscars acceptance speech, seemingly aimed at Chalamet.

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What they’re saying

“Security is extremely tight tonight. I'm told there are concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet community.”

— Conan O'Brien, Oscars Host

“Maybe it takes 10 years' time, but we can change society through art, through creativity, through theater and ballet, and also cinema.”

— Alexandre Singh, Director, Two People Exchanging Saliva

The takeaway

Timothée Chalamet's dismissive comments about ballet and opera continued to draw criticism even at the prestigious Oscars ceremony, with the host and a winning filmmaker making pointed references to the actor's controversial remarks. This highlights the enduring backlash Chalamet faced over his perceived disregard for these longstanding art forms.