The backlash against Timothée Chalamet is escalating, and there’s a risk he may miss out on an Oscar in 2026.
The actor’s journey to conquer the prestigious Oscar has encountered a major setback after a video surfaced showing a conversation between Chalamet and fellow actor Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas (USA). During the discussion about preserving the culture of movie theater viewing, the 1995-born star made comments that have caused outrage among the arts community, as well as ballet and opera fans.
Specifically, when discussing the future of the arts, Timothée stated, “I don’t want to work in ballet or opera, where people have to shout about keeping the art alive, even though no one actually cares about it anymore.” Although he later joked that his view might result in a loss of viewers, the criticism still erupted strongly.
This statement severely damaged the actor’s reputation within the arts community.
The Arts World Reacts
Immediately after the video went viral, numerous artists and prominent arts organizations voiced their disapproval. Grammy-winning opera singer Isabel Leonard expressed her disappointment on social media, stating that Chalamet’s view was “short-sighted,” and that it was sad for an artist to degrade other art forms.
The Metropolitan Opera’s Instagram account, one of America’s most famous and long-established opera houses, posted the video, which gained more than 400,000 likes and tagged Timothée Chalamet’s name directly as a form of “rebuke.”
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“This one’s for you, @tchalamet…” Metropolitan Opera wrote. Photo: @metopera
In the UK, the Royal Ballet and Opera company representatives stated that these art forms are not isolated but always shape how artists create in film and fashion. Other organizations, such as the English National Ballet, also provided statistics proving the vitality of these art forms, with over 200,000 attendees for live performances and more than 65 million social media interactions.
Seattle Opera (USA) announced a 14% ticket discount for their performance of Carmen when the audience uses the code “Timothée.” Photo: @seattleopera
Teatro alla Scala, Italy’s iconic opera house, directly quoted Chalamet’s phrase “no one cares” to affirm the opposite. Video: Teatro alla Scala
Pressure before the “D-Day” for the Hollywood Star
The situation has become particularly sensitive as it coincides with the voting period for the 98th Academy Awards. Timothée Chalamet is a strong contender for the “Best Actor in a Leading Role” category for his performance in Marty Supreme.
Many critics believe this “slip of the tongue” could influence the mindset of Academy voters, especially since Chalamet’s image is being weighed against seasoned contenders like Leonardo DiCaprio. Earlier, the actor’s promotional campaign was also criticized by some audiences as “overconfident” when he rated his new role as the “highest level” of his career.
Chalamet is also known to be in a relationship with Kylie Jenner.
The contradiction in Chalamet’s statement is particularly striking as he grew up in an artistic family. His mother and sister both studied at the School of American Ballet, and he himself grew up in the Manhattan Plaza artist’s complex in New York.
Timothée’s mother, Nicole Flender (center), once pursued a career in ballet. Photo: AP
Currently, Timothée Chalamet’s team has yet to issue an official response. Fans are expected to see the star at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony on March 15.
