Timothée Chalamet Faces Backlash After Dismissing Opera and Ballet
Timothée Chalamet is facing criticism after suggesting that opera and ballet are art forms “no one cares about.” The comments, made during a conversation with actor Matthew McConaughey, sparked a swift response from the opera and ballet worlds, including the Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, and Royal Ballet, and Opera.
The Metropolitan Opera responded to Chalamet’s remarks on Instagram, posting a video on Thursday, March 6, 2026, highlighting the work of those behind the scenes – set decorators, musicians, costumers, and other theatrical technicians. The post was captioned, “This one’s for you, @tchalamet… 👀.” The video also included text on screen paraphrasing Chalamet’s comment: “All respect to the opera (and ballet) people out there.”
Chalamet made the comments while discussing the future of theatrical moviegoing and the need to support certain genres. He said, “I’ve done it myself — go on a talk show and go, ‘Hey, we gotta preserve movie theaters alive. You recognize, we gotta keep this genre alive.’ And another part of me feels like, if people wanna notice it, like Barbie, like Oppenheimer, they’re gonna go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it.” He then added the controversial statement about ballet and opera.
The response wasn’t limited to institutional accounts. Megan Fairchild, a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, addressed Chalamet directly in an Instagram video, questioning his perspective. “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,” Fairchild said. “Ballet and opera aren’t niche hobbies people opt out of for fame.” She concluded her caption with, “Great luck in the Oscar race. Artists supporting artists matters. None of these paths are easy, and there’s no need to put ballet or opera down along the way.”
The LA Opera and Royal Ballet and Opera also posted responses on Instagram, joining the chorus of disapproval. The incident highlights the passionate dedication within the performing arts community and the sensitivity surrounding discussions about artistic value and audience engagement.
Chalamet seemingly anticipated some backlash, adding, “All respect to the ballet and opera people out there… Damn, I just took shots for no reason.” The Metropolitan Opera’s pointed response suggests that the apology may not have been enough to quell the controversy.
