NYC Ballet Dancer's Viral Clapback at Chalamet Diss

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A principal dancer at the New York City Ballet, Jovani Furlan, went viral this week for his impressive video response to actor Timothée Chalamet's comment that 'no one cares' about classical art forms like ballet and opera. Furlan, who has an intense training and performance schedule, posted a video of himself balancing on a bosu ball and doing advanced ballet moves to prove Chalamet wrong about the athleticism and talent required to be a ballet dancer.

Why it matters

Furlan's video sparked a wider conversation about the skill and dedication required to be a professional ballet dancer, an art form that is sometimes overlooked or underappreciated by the general public. The exchange also highlighted the ongoing debate about the relevance and popularity of classical arts in modern culture.

The details

In the video, Furlan is seen balancing on a bosu ball and performing advanced ballet moves, including lifting his leg in two different positions. The video racked up nearly 10 million views on Instagram and TikTok, with many commenters praising Furlan's athleticism and skills. Furlan said he posted the video in response to Chalamet's comment at a CNN and Variety town hall event, where the actor said he doesn'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.'

• Furlan filmed the bosu ball balancing act a few days before he heard about Chalamet's comment.
• Furlan posted the video in response to Chalamet's comment.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Furlan said he does not think Chalamet needs to be 'villainized' for his comments, and that the exchange has actually led to more people speaking up about caring for the ballet and other classical art forms.