Celebrities Like the Ballet and Opera, Actually

""I don't want to be working in ballet or opera, or things where it's like, 'Hey, keep this thing alive,' even though no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership." - Timothée Chalamet's original controversial statement dismissing classical performing arts."

""Oh, what a schmuck. It was kind of kaleidoscopic in its stupidity and insensitivity, and yet strangely telling about where we are in this country." - Nathan Lane's critical response to Chalamet's remarks about opera and ballet."

""First of all, one should remember, people will be going to see Swan Lake and La Traviata long after someone at a dinner party says, 'Who was Timothée Chalamet?' It's the show business circle of life." - Nathan Lane arguing that classical art forms have greater longevity than contemporary celebrity."

Timothée Chalamet sparked controversy by criticizing opera and ballet as dying art forms lacking cultural importance during a Variety/CNN interview with Matthew McConaughey. He stated he would not work in these fields since "no one cares about this anymore," adding a dismissive comment about losing "14 cents in viewership." The remarks prompted significant backlash from celebrities and arts professionals including Nathan Lane, Doja Cat, Andrea Bocelli, and Misty Copeland. Nathan Lane called Chalamet "a schmuck" and criticized the comments as "kaleidoscopic in its stupidity and insensitivity." Lane argued that classical works like Swan Lake and La Traviata will outlast Chalamet's career, comparing it to the circle of life in entertainment.

Read at Vulture