From asking ‘what is this earth without art?’ to claiming ‘no one cares’ about ballet or opera, Timothée Chalamet’s mixed messages have affronted the internet

Image by Khoa Tran

Actor Timothée Chalamet recently came under fire for his comments about ballet and opera, but in March his newest film, Marty Supreme – a table tennis drama – went home with exactly zero of the nine Academy Awards for which it was nominated. This begs the question: who decides which arts and hobbies are important? And how integral is media training in today’s online climate?

During a recent conversation with fellow Academy-nominee Matthew McConaughey, Chalamet claimed, “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘let’s keep this thing alive’”. The clip has gone viral online, along with similar comments he has made in the past resurfacing. There are multiple points of irony in this situation, one being that Chalamet’s own mother and sister are trained ballet dancers. The main point of irony, though, is that the actor’s most recent (and highly anticipated) project is a drama focusing on an obsessive table tennis player. Let’s say it again…table tennis…not exactly a game that draws in the same crowds and revenue as the ‘dying arts’ of say, ballet and opera.

Although there has been an undeniable shift in attention away from classical entertainment industries, is it really fair to say that “no one cares”? More to the point, is it fair to claim that “no one cares” in a conversation promoting a film about…ping-pong?  Whatever led to Chalamet sharing these particular views, this seems a good time for everyone to learn that we must respect and uplift each other’s interests – especially those which are “dying”.

The spectacle of the opera has enjoyed more than 400 years of popularity, with ballet extending to an even more impressive 500 years. The film industry, in comparison, is a fledgling entertainment form, at a sprightly 130 years old. While of course the digital age has been accelerating the growth of cinema, it may equally be putting it at risk. As we often note here at the Pigeon, streaming services are increasingly being chosen over cinemas to debut new films (see: the Netflix release of the film adaptation of Emily Henry’s wildly successful People We Meet on Vacation, or this year’s Oscar-nominated Train Dreams). There is no way to claim for certain that even film will not become a ‘dying art’ in a few decades, and we’re in no doubt that actors like Chalamet would be fighting for its survival, rather than denouncing it or reducing it to a punchline. There is also a wider issue at stake here, and perhaps one that goes unmarked: the dismissal of typically “feminine” art forms such as ballet and opera is maybe indicative of a world less tolerant of “soft” art. Are Chalamet’s comments a result of a subconscious preference for the more “masculine” arc of a sports drama anti-hero?  With Marty Supreme seeming to deeply parallel films such as Black Swan in its depiction of a protagonist who sacrifices everything in pursuit of greatness, perhaps ballet is only taken less seriously because women are the face of it.

On that note, this discourse could not come at a better time for the producers of Pretty Lethal – Prime’s new action thriller about a dysfunctional group of ballet dancers. This film understands that dancers are athletes, with actress Lana Condor stating in an interview with Cosmopolitan that director Vicky Jewson “wanted to show that ballerinas’ grace comes from their absolute toughness.” The cast have been asked numerous times during their press run about the ongoing ballet-opera discourse, and Condor recently told Impact that she is “excited to prove [people] wrong” and that ballet and opera “have always been major forms of entertainment” and still are today.

As well as online, Chalamet faced the consequences of his comments at the prestigious Oscars awards ceremony. Presenters and winners alike shared their criticisms, making for numerous memorable moments, such as host Conan O’Brien’s poke at Chalamet for compromising security as a result of his inflammatory comments to the arts community. Many have speculated that Marty Supreme’s forgettable awards run has been driven by Chalamet’s comments, but in reality the deciding votes were cast long before the ceremony, and it might just be that a table tennis drama  couldn’t amount to the genre-defying phenomenon of  Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, the award season underdog that secured four Oscars and three BAFTA wins. That being said, the viral blunder certainly hasn’t helped Marty Supreme’s – or Chalamet’s – reputation.

This isn’t the only recent situation which has called into question the climate of today’s media training and interview etiquette. Influencer and podcaster Jake Shane has also been facing backlash for his interview style on the Vanity Fair Oscars red carpet. The conversations he conducted with celebrities on the carpet have been described by viewers as awkward and unprofessional, with particular notice given to his continuous jokes about the sombre drama If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. In light of this situation, Variety posted an article in which they state that “every little chip away at standards of excellence is something that our culture cannot get back.”

Pitting different arts and passions against each other certainly speaks to a lack of proper media training. The internet has fostered an era of hyper-individualism and self-interest, which can create unempathetic conversation and is perhaps one of the reasons that longstanding cultural industries have been struggling. This is a time when arts communities need to come together to uplift and increase visibility for each other. Films like Pretty Lethal, La La Land and even the discourse prompted by Chalamet are getting the ball rolling, but to really make a difference, we need to be showing up for our communities. Sure, an outing at the  ballet or opera won’t come cheap, but as TikTok users like to reiterate, “inconvenience is the price we pay for community.” (Well, inconvenience plus the price of a ticket and some snacks.)

Showing up for real people who spend years honing their craft and months putting together a performance is extremely cool. Caring is cool! Get off your phone, delete ChatGPT, cancel that Prime Video subscription (after you watch Pretty Lethal) and get out of the house for a few hours in the evening. If you felt affronted by Chalamet’s comments, just remember you are not powerless. Prove that people do in fact care, and that ‘dying arts’ can be resuscitated.