Hollywood actor Timothée Chalamet has drawn criticism online after remarks about ballet and opera during a public conversation went viral, prompting reactions from artists, institutions and social media users.

Chalamet, who is currently nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his performance in Marty Supreme, made the comments while speaking with Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas.

During the discussion, the actor said he was not interested in working in certain traditional art forms."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,'" Chalamet said during the conversation.

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Although he added that he meant “all respect” to people working in those fields, the comment quickly circulated online and drew strong reactions.

Social media users and artists criticise remarks

Several social media users described the statement as dismissive of long-standing artistic traditions. Some posts questioned how an actor could criticise other performance arts, while others said the comment came across as tone-deaf given Chalamet’s own position in the entertainment industry.

Actor Jamie Lee Curtis also responded indirectly by reposting a video criticising the remarks.

Opera and ballet institutions joined the conversation as well. The Royal Ballet and Opera invited Chalamet to attend a performance, while the English National Opera extended a similar invitation.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Opera responded with humour, announcing a promotional discount for tickets to its production of Carmen using the promo code "Timothée".

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Colombian ballet dancer Fernando Montaño also issued a letter addressing the remarks, arguing that comparing art forms often limits understanding of their cultural value.

Actor yet to respond to controversy

Chalamet has not publicly addressed the criticism so far.

The actor remains a strong contender in the Best Actor race at the Academy Awards, though awards season has seen mixed results. He won the Best Actor – Drama category at the Golden Globe Awards but did not secure the top acting honour at the British Academy Film Awards. Other nominees in the category reportedly include Wagner Moura, Michael B Jordan, Ethan Hawke, and Leonardo DiCaprio.