Lights, Cameras, Clicks. Upon a pre-Grammy interview, a once-beloved heartthrob, Timothee Chalamet (Wonka, 2023), catalyzed the cultural cacophony of the New Year. Apparently, “nobody cares [about ballet and opera]” said Chalamet, which led celebrities, musicians and beloved ballerinas to take centre stage.
A symphony of critique has given rise to the ongoing rhetoric that the classical disciplines are a dying art. One example of protest came from none other than Misty Copeland, a world-renowned American ballet dancer who performed at this year’s Oscars. In turn, Copeland reflected on her ancient art discipline.
“You see it reflected everywhere. I mean, 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. So all of these mediums have a space and we shouldn’t be comparing them,” Copeland remarked.
Chalamet’s robust career has been demonstrated by numerous beloved films, including Little Women (2019), Call Me by Your Name (2017), and The French Dispatch (2021). His major blockbuster films have been praised for their artistry, and his role in Wonka (2023) showcased Chalamet’s ability to sing and dance. Though the actor clearly has little awareness of what skills and talent are required for opera and ballet.
For starters, ballet training generally begins at or shortly after performers’ third birthdays to ensure proper development of the feet and ankles. Not to mention, professional ballet dancers dedicate several days of the week just to training and technique. The same rigour applies to professional musicians and opera singers, who not only spend hours in lessons but are also required to complete curricula such as the Royal Conservatory of Music, which requires students to participate in adjudicated exams in both theory and performance. Even after years and decades of training, not all young musicians pursue their professional goals because positions in orchestras and symphonies are scarce, and the standards are remarkably high. In simple terms, it is not easy to become a professionally trained in the classical arts.
Celebrities have also taken part in scrutinizing Chalamet’s ignorance, with rapper Doja Cat (real name Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini) taking part in patronizing the arts. “Hey, by the way, opera is 400 years old, ballet is 500 years old,” she said. “Somebody named Tim-oh-tay Cha-lam-et had the nerve — big guy, by the way — had the nerve to say, on-camera, that nobody cares about it,” she said. The musical artist would later walk back her criticisms, however.
Actor Jamie Lee Curtis has also come to defend the arts as a patron. “His comments are silly, and I’m sorry that they’re going to be a bit of his legacy now… I’m sure he regrets the comment because you can’t throw those art forms under a bus. You can’t do it. They’re too important,” Curtis said.
As the Oscars have come and gone, we now know that Chalamet did not take home the Best Actor award, but one has to wonder: how might his unfounded comments have jeopardized his chances? The world may never know.