Déjà vu! Timothée Chalamet has been 'criticizing' ballet and opera for years

Photo: Timothée Chalamet/Variety/CNN

A clip from the past is making the rounds online, showing Timothée Chalamet speaking out against ballet and opera, years before his most recent viral statement that "nobody cares" about these artistic disciplines.

The "Marty Supreme" star referred to both as a "disappearing art form" in 2019 while promoting director David Michôd's film "The King," according to a TikTok video.

Reflecting on his beginnings as an actor and why he chose to work in films, he said: 

"I started to realize that maybe opera or ballet or something like that, are a bit like a dying art form or something."

Chalamet's initial, much-criticized comments were made during a Town Hall event with Matthew McConaughey, produced by Variety and CNN last month.

During the event, broadcast on CNN on February 21, Chalamet said:

“I admire people, and I have done it myself, who go on talk shows and say, ‘Hey, we have to keep cinema alive, we have to keep this genre alive,’ and another part of me feels that if people want to see ‘Barbie,’ ‘Oppenheimer,’ they will see it and say it with pride.”

However, he noted that he did not want to "work in ballet or opera when no one cares anymore."

"With all due respect," he added, but the reactions from many in the ballet and opera world were swift.

The Royal Ballet and Royal Opera released a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, saying:

"Ballet and opera have never existed in isolation, they have always informed, inspired and elevated other art forms."

However, the viral statement also spurred creative marketing, with several regional opera companies offering discounts on performances following his words.

Some took his criticism in jest; particularly the Seattle Opera, which offered a discount with the code “TIMOTHEE” for upcoming performances.

Chalamet has spoken about his family members who are dancers, including his grandmother, mother, and sister.

He is nominated for Best Actor for his role in the film “Marty Supreme” at the 98th Academy Awards, which take place on March 15. His film is also in the running for the Best Picture award.