30-year-old Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet has made waves online after claiming that “no one cares” about ballet and opera during a Variety and CNN town hall at the University of Texas at Austin he attended with Matthew McConaughey. Fortunately, the hosts of “The View” stepped in to defend these long-beloved art forms during their March 9 episode.
What Did Chalamet Say, Exactly?
During the Variety and CNN town hall, the “Marty Supreme” star reflected on today’s changing media landscape, first focusing on how many movie theaters continue to struggle in the era of streaming services.
Despite saying he admires people who–like he himself has–go on talk shows to talk about keeping movie theaters alive, he added that another part of him feels that “if people want to see it, like ‘Barbie,’ like ‘Oppenheimer,’ they’re going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it.”
Shortly after, Chalamet pivoted to other art forms including ballet and opera, off-handedly saying he wouldn’t want to work in those industries.
“I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera, or you know, things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive,’ even though it’s like, no one cares about this anymore,” he said as McConaughey and the audience laughed somewhat uncomfortably.
Although he ended this line of commentary by giving “all respect to the ballet and opera people,” Chalamet’s comments have ignited a firestorm of criticism online and on daytime television programs like “The View.”
‘The View’ Hosts Remind Chalamet That His Words ‘Have Meaning’
GettyAfter watching the viral clip from the town hall, “The View” host Sara Haines reminded the audience that Chalamet’s grandmother, mother, and sister all danced in the New York City Ballet. After jokingly adding that this seems like a “family issue,” Haines went on to explain that these art forms are far from dying out.
“This is a good example of where people are so American culture-centric,” Haines said. “These are international art forms—ballet is everywhere. And it’s not only not declining; it’s huge in other places where access is even better. So I find it interesting that maybe he came from a place of not knowing that.”
However, Haines’ co-host Sunny Hostin was quick to reply that ballet is still extremely popular in New York where Chalamet grew up.
“Ballet is an art form, and it’s very popular here, too,” Hostin said. “As a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, a classical Black ballet troupe, I’m offended and disappointed in what he said. I didn’t realize he was that vapid and that shallow.”
Though guest host Sheryl Underwood initially defended Chalamet’s comments by saying he’s just a “young handsome man” that may have gotten caught up in the moment, she expressed that his comments indicate a larger problem with today’s young people.
“A lot of young people need to understand: Don’t just flip off and say something. Really understand that your words have meaning to other young people,” Underwood said before addressing Chalamet directly and inviting him on the show to share his thoughts.
Host Whoopi Goldberg reiterated Chalamet’s family ties to ballet, saying that he “should have known better” than to make such comments.
“Be careful, boy … Don’t apologize when you’ve insulted. It doesn’t sound right,” Goldberg said. “You can’t say, ‘Oh, this is dumb, no disrespect.’ That’s absolute disrespect.”
With the Academy Awards only days away, many fans are concerned that Chalamet’s comments may cost him the Best Actor award. Though Chalamet was originally the front-runner in the Oscar race after winning the Critics Choice Award, Gold Derby reported that “Sinners” star Michael B. Jordan is predicted to take home the Best Actor trophy .
Eager to see how the Oscar race shakes out after Chalamet’s viral commentary? Tune in to the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC, or stream it live on Hulu.
