Timothée Chalamet Criticized Ballet and Opera Years Before Viral Comments

A resurfaced 2019 clip shows the actor calling the art forms a "dying art form" before his recent controversial remarks.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 1:27am

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A resurfaced clip from 2019 shows actor Timothée Chalamet speaking out against ballet and opera, years before his recent viral statement that "no one cares" about those artistic disciplines. In the 2019 video, Chalamet referred to ballet and opera as "a dying art form" while promoting his film "The King". This comes after Chalamet made controversial comments about the art forms during a recent town hall event, sparking backlash from the ballet and opera communities.

Why it matters

Chalamet's comments have drawn significant attention and criticism, as he has family members who are professional ballet dancers. The resurfaced 2019 clip suggests Chalamet has held these views about ballet and opera for several years, predating his more recent viral remarks.

The details

In the 2019 clip, Chalamet said "I started getting the sense it was maybe opera or ballet or something, it's kind of like a dying art form or something" while promoting his film "The King". This contrasts with his more recent comments during a town hall event in February 2026, where he stated "I don't want to be working in ballet or opera where it's like, 'Hey! Keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore.'" Chalamet's comments have sparked backlash from the ballet and opera communities, with organizations like the Royal Ballet and Opera releasing statements defending the art forms.

  • In October 2019, Chalamet made comments about ballet and opera being a "dying art form" while promoting his film "The King".
  • In February 2026, Chalamet made controversial comments about ballet and opera during a town hall event produced by Variety and CNN.

The players

Timothée Chalamet

A 30-year-old actor who is nominated for Best Actor at the 98th Academy Awards for his role in the film "Marty Supreme".

Royal Ballet and Opera

Ballet and opera companies that released a statement defending their art forms in response to Chalamet's comments.

Seattle Opera

An opera company that offered a "TIMOTHEE" discount on upcoming performances as a cheeky response to Chalamet's remarks.

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What’s next

Chalamet is nominated for Best Actor at the 98th Academy Awards, which take place on March 15, 2026. The sports drama film "Marty Supreme" that he stars in is also nominated for Best Picture.

The takeaway

Chalamet's long-held views about ballet and opera being "dying art forms" have resurfaced, highlighting the actor's controversial stance on these classical art disciplines despite having family members who are professional ballet dancers. His comments have sparked a backlash from the ballet and opera communities, who have defended the enduring relevance and importance of their art forms.