Los Angeles, March 8 – Hollywood star Timothée Chalamet has faced strong criticism from the opera and ballet worlds after making disparaging remarks about them.
Timothée, 30, said, “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 it anymore’. I respect everyone in the ballet and opera world. I’ve just lost 14 cents in viewership. I’m making these comments for no reason,” according to ‘Female First UK’.
The Royal Ballet and Opera UK told The Hollywood Reporter, “Ballet and opera have never existed in isolation; they have continually informed, inspired, and elevated other art forms. Their influence can be felt across theatre, film, contemporary music, fashion, and beyond. For centuries, these disciplines have shaped the way artists create and audiences experience culture, and today, millions of people around the world continue to enjoy and engage with them.”
American opera singer Isabel Leonard commented on a video of Chalamet, writing, “Honestly, I’m shocked that someone so seemingly successful can be so inarticulate and narrow-minded in his views about art, while considering himself as (an) artist. To take cheap shots at fellow artists says more in this interview than anything else he could say. It shows a lot about his character. You don’t have to like all art, but only a weak person/artist feels the need to diminish the very art that would inspire those who are interested in slowing down, to do exactly that.”
According to ‘Female First UK’, New York City Ballet principal dancer Megan Fairchild also shared her opinion on Instagram.
She wrote, “It’s not even the fact that he dissed ballet and opera that bothers me; it’s the suggestion that he had the talent and aptitude to pursue these Olympic-level artistic fields in the first place. Timmy, I didn’t realize you were a world-class dancer or opera singer who simply chose not to pursue it because acting is more popular.”
Fellow principal dancer Sara Mearns referenced Timothée’s mother, Nicole Flender, who is a former ballet dancer, and wrote, “I would like to challenge @tchalemet to come to the studio with me and create something that has stood the test of time. Show your mother the respect she deserves.”
