“I don’t want to work in ballet or opera where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive’ even though nobody cares about it anymore.“ This is the quote from Timothée Chalamet that set social media ablaze all weekend. It didn’t take long after the Actors on Actors interview ( from which this quote is taken) aired on Variety for the artistic world to let the Marty Supreme actor know he was on the wrong track.
Why did this comment cause such controversy?
First and foremost, because ballet and opera are arts that are still very much alive. Every year, thousands of performances attract large audiences, support a multitude of different professions, and perpetuate artistic traditions while modernizing them.
Secondly, as Timothée Chalamet works in one of the many branches of the performing arts (cinema), we did not expect him to criticize these disciplines. Denigrating an entire artistic field in order to promote his own did not go down well with many people.
The Lyon Opera’s response on Instagram
So yes, you were probably disappointed to learn that Timothée Chalamet won’t be starring in the upcoming adaptation of your favorite ballet. But with this touch of humor, we hope Timothée will buy a ticket to one of the many shows available.
And if he prefers a gentler introduction to this genre he considers dusty, perhaps the luminous version of Ballet of Lights, with its 60-minute shows where the costumes change color, will allow him to appreciate ballet.
