Timothee Chalamet was lightheartedly targeted by 2026 Oscars host Conon O’Brien.
The actor, who was nominated in the Best Actor category for his role in Marty Supremereceived a backlash earlier this month when he questioned the popularity of two classical art forms, opera and ballet.
“I don’t want to work in ballet or opera or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive even if no one cares about it anymore,’” was Chalamet’s statement made during a panel event at the University of Texas.
O’Brien, who was hosting the Oscars for the second year in a row, took the opportunity to turn Chalamet’s faux pas into a punchline.
“Security is extremely tight tonight,” he told the audience at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. “I have been told that there are concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities,” which prompted laughter.
“We’re just mad that you left out jazz,” O’Brien added cheekily.
After Chalamet’s comment about ballet and opera went viral, he was criticized by many members of both communities.
Opera singer Isabel Leonard wrote in a comment on a video of the panel event: “To take cheap shots at fellow performers says more in this interview than anything he could say. Shows a lot about his character.”
Ballet dancer Victor Caixeta responded that the two art forms have “been around for centuries” and wondered whether the Dune actor’s films would still be watched in 300 years.
Meanwhile, opera icon Andrea Bocelli has responded by inviting Timothee Chalamet to one of his concerts.
