Timothee Chalamet, one of Hollywood's brightest stars, finds himself in the middle of an unexpected controversy following his recent comments about the relevance and popularity of opera and ballet.

During a conversation with Matthew McConaughey for a Variety and In an interview with CNN about the future of cinema, the star of Marty Supreme suggested that opera and ballet are in decline and lack interest for today's audiences. “I don't want to work in ballet or opera, or things where you have to be saying, 'Hey, let's keep this alive,' when nobody cares anymore,” Chalamet stated. Although he attempted to soften his comment by adding, “with all due respect to the people of ballet and opera,” his words quickly went viral, prompting an immediate and coordinated response from the affected guilds. Response from institutions: The Metropolitan Opera in New York was one of the first to react, posting a video on TikTok showing the hard work behind the scenes by its technicians and artists, with the direct dedication: “This one's for you, Timothee Chalamet.” Meanwhile, the Royal Ballet and Opera in London issued a statement defending these disciplines, asserting that they are not only alive, but rather they are the foundation that inspires other art forms, including film.

Figures in the industry, such as soprano Isabel Leonard and actress Jamie Lee Curtis, also questioned the actor's way of thinking. While some defenders argue that Chalamet was only pointing out the difficulty these arts have in attracting mass audiences, industry professionals reminded him that the talent and discipline they demand are “Olympic-level.”