Timothée Chalamet's ballet and opera insult isn't exactly false, but it says more about him than those art forms

And yet here we are, in what might be the biggest ballet and opera brouhaha since soprano Maria Callas’ yearlong scrap with the Met Opera and its general manager Rudolf Bing.

Chalamet’s opening salvo came during a Variety and CNN town hall discussion between the actor and his “Interstellar” co-star Matthew McConaughey. “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera,” the 30-year-old said. “Things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore.’”

Seemingly recognizing his misstep, Chalamet quickly added: “All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there … Damn, I just took shots for no reason.”

Too late. 

The return fire was swift and forceful, coming from dancers and singers, as well as ballet and opera companies around the world. The Royal Ballet and Opera in the UK posted a video on Instagram featuring clips of its various productions, accompanied by a heart emoji and the text, “We Care.”

Similarly, the Canadian Opera Company posted its own video on the platform, featuring interviews with young operagoers sharing why they love the art form. 

The Seattle Opera, meanwhile, came up with its own cheeky response, creating a new “TIMOTHEE” discount code for its production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” “Timmy, you’re welcome to use it too,” the company said on social media. 

It’s understandable that many in ballet and opera are going on the offensive over Chalamet’s comments. But they need not get so worked up. Chalamet’s words really speak more about him than the art forms he tried to attack. 

The harsh reality is that while what Chalamet said may be grossly exaggerated, it isn’t exactly untrue. 

While both ballet and opera still have their loyal fans, fewer people today care about those art forms than they did six or seven decades ago. The days when ballet and opera were part of mainstream culture, when stars like Callas and Rudolf Nureyev could transcend those art forms and become global icons, are largely over.

Financially, many of these arts organizations are also struggling. Of the 150 largest ballet companies in the United States, more than half ended 2023 with a financial deficit. Even the Metropolitan Opera in Chalamet’s hometown of New York City is in a financial tailspin.

I’m sure Chalamet knows this. It probably even informed his controversial comments. But still, his words are more of a self-own than anything else. 

That’s because those working in ballet and opera understand these realities too. In fact, I don’t think there’s a single ballet dancer or opera singer who isn’t acutely aware of the financial pressures that their industries are facing.

And yet, these artists still do what they do — not for the money, not for the fame, not for the spotlight, but for the love of the craft. That takes grit. And it deserves respect. 

What makes Chalamet’s comments so disappointing is that I thought someone like him would understand all this. As a young performer, he seemed like an actor who truly loved his craft. And I think many fans admired how he selected projects not based on their potential box office appeal but on the quality of the material itself. 

Now it sounds like Chalamet cares a lot more about the attention that comes with being a Hollywood star than about the art of moviemaking itself.

Perhaps the most preposterous part of his comments, however, is how he naively assumes he could so easily become a ballet or opera star, but is merely choosing not to do so because he doesn’t want to partake in what he sees as a dying art form. 

This sentiment isn’t new. Chalamet is just one of many, many Hollywood types over the years who’ve turned their noses up against their fellow performers working in the live arts. 

The truth and the irony of the matter is that many of the stage artists Chalamet indirectly dissed probably possess the talent, perseverance and humility to make it big in Hollywood if they wanted to.

The question regarding Chalamet, however, is not so much whether he wanted to be a ballet dancer or opera singer, but whether he had the ability to do so. Without the fame, fortune and attention of Hollywood, I don’t think he ever could.