Timothée Chalamet Hates Ballet and Opera (and Women?)

Timothée Chalamet has been in the news a lot in 2026, but not for the reasons you might expect. He has an Oscar nomination, countless upcoming projects, and a billionaire girlfriend, but instead of focusing on his latest role or most recent red carpet appearance, the world is still hung up on his dismissive comments about ballet and opera. Timothée’s offhand comments about what he claims are “dying” art forms are not simply an attack on ballet and opera as entities and industries, but a direct dig at the women who lead them. His infuriating nonchalance in devaluing these feminine spaces represents a version of misogyny that often goes unchecked in the media… but not this time. The internet seems hell-bent on not letting Chalamet get away with his comments, and I am 100% on board with the world’s obsession with holding him accountable for publicly dismissing two of history’s most impressive, difficult, and demanding female-driven art forms.

So why does it matter? Whether Timmy intended it or not, he used his gigantic platform and global reach to shit on something that many people, especially women, hold near and dear to their hearts. On top of that, Timothée himself sits at the top of the male-dominated film industry, in which women only represent a third of the characters presented onscreen. By unashamedly belittling two of the industries that women represent (all the while benefitting from the misogyny of his own industry) Timothée critiqued the women involved and their contribution to society, and women (and the men who support them) are reasonably upset.

His comments are even more shocking and upsetting because his own mother, grandmother, and sister were all professional dancers and ballerinas. I grew up training at a dance studio founded, run, and completely held together by women, and it taught me respect, not just for the artform, but for the women themselves that kept it all going. 

Here are just a few of the ways the entertainment industry has supported and uplifted opera and ballet following Timothee’s comments: The Los Angeles Music Center announced that it will sell discounted tickets to upcoming ballet shows if you use the promo code “CHALAMET.” Iconic black ballerina Misty Copeland, who funnily enough was asked last year to use her massive platform to promote Timothee’s most recent movie, chastised Timothee for his comments, arguing that he “wouldn’t be an actor and have the opportunities he has as a movie star if it weren’t for opera and ballet and their relevance in that medium.” Copeland also appeared onstage at the Oscars, dancing en pointe for Timothee in the front row. The Metropolitan Opera House has been using social media to proudly display and celebrate their recent sold out performances and the Seattle Opera House has also provided the promo code “TIMOTHEE” for a discount on upcoming tickets. And of course, at this year’s Oscars, host Conan O’Brien and many other celebrities made multiple jokes at Chalamet’s expense.

In a world filled with hateful speech and men in public positions who are rarely held accountable for their problematic comments and outbursts, I appreciate that we all can’t seem to simply let go of Timothee’s dismissal of ballet and opera. When celebrities are given platforms, they are also given the power to sway public opinion and the way people spend their money. Chalamet should be using his power to uplift smaller industries and support the women who keep them going. That’s why women just can’t seem to forget what Timmy said. Because his comments weren’t simply about ballet or opera… They were a public admission on who and what he thinks should be taken seriously and respected.