In the preceding weeks, French-American actor Timothée Chalamet came under fire from fans for his comments on classical art forms such as opera and ballet. Chalamet responded to a question about his loss of attention span with longer forms of content, such as movies, by lamenting his fear that movie theaters could lose the public’s attention. His comments remained completely unnecessary and contradictory to his goals as an artist.
Chalamet’s ambitions as an actor remain clear to the public because he consistently portrays and gloats about his ambitions and aspirations as an actor. In interviews, show award speeches and podcast appearances, he frequently alludes to his inclinations to earn a spot as a highly distinguished actor — disregarding humility in order to draw attention to his acting skills. The problem, though not necessarily in his overly present pride for his acting achievements, shines through Chalamet’s blatant disrespect and disregard toward other art forms. If Chalamet truly wanted to achieve the status of a legendary actor, he would not disregard any form of art that exists within the entertainment industry.
“He was completely disrespectful in the Variety interview by saying that ‘no one cares about ballet or opera.’ It was disrespectful because he is 30 and ballet and opera are over 400 years old. Also, ballet and opera are forms of art that many people care about. I’m deeply disappointed in general because I have been a fan of Timmy since 2019, when “Little Women” came out. I wish he could go back to being quiet, but something tells me he was always mean,” sophomore Emma Woods said.
Additionally, ballet and opera still hold immense impact in modern popular culture. Though the average person may not know the names of renowned ballets and operas, they may recognize pieces from notable shows. For example, “The Pirates of Penzance,” written by Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert, includes the “Major-General’s song,” which has appeared frequently in popular media through parodies. Famous examples include, but are not limited to, “Animatics,” “Family Guy,” “Pokémon” and “The Big Bang Theory.”
Ballet and ballerinas also possess a strong influence on beauty and fashion trends. For example, balletcore and coquette, which trended in subsequent years, emulated elements from ballet dancers’ way of dress, such as with legwarmers, pointe shoes and ballet flats. Apart from balletcore, ballet also emerges frequently in popular media. Thousands of movies and shows exist that pertain to ballet and opera, such as “Black Swan,” “Leap!,” “Angelina Ballerina” and “Phantom of the Opera.”
A select demographic may argue that no individuals care about opera or ballet, due to the economic barriers that prevent consumers and performers alike from entering these spaces. According to the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), raising a child to become a ballerina could cost over $100,000. Around $83,000, assuming the parent would enroll their child into top ballet schools, summer intensives and $2,000 for leotards, tights and other practice equipment. Therefore, for lower-income families, this can create a massive challenge to break into the ballet scene.
Chalamet’s comments still presented as blatantly offhanded, especially as he works and exists in artistic spaces along with ballerinas and vocalists. Chalamet attended and graduated from the highly selective and prestigious performance arts school, LaGuardia High School in New York City. This means that Chalamet definitely inhabited ballet spaces throughout his childhood, as LaGuardia offered ballet and vocal training in their curriculum. As a result of Chalamet’s involvement and exposure to various art forms, it should be expected that he should hold a high regard for opera and ballet.
“I believe Timmothée Chalamet has done so much for acting, which is an art. I think that it’s a total lapse in judgment, and that he should have been more empathetic for other art forms in the genre he’s in. Ballet and opera are so close to acting, like opera and ballet can be in a play or TV show. But I think that, hopefully, his mother, who is a ballerina, will knock some sense into him,” magnet sophomore Leila Quaynor said.
Overall, Chalamet’s comments on ballet and opera demonstrate a lack of respect for the business that he is involved in. Solely because opera and ballet do not attract the audience that other arts do does not mean that these modes of expression possess no importance in modern culture. Opera and ballet have existed for centuries on end, and the art forms’ impact on the world will weigh more heavily than Chalamet’s influence.
