Additional Coverage:
- Ballet legend Misty Copeland calls out Timothée Chalamet for asking her to promote Marty Supreme before viral dig (the-independent.com)
Misty Copeland Pirouettes Back at Timothée Chalamet’s “No One Cares” Comments
Ballet icon Misty Copeland has gracefully stepped into the spotlight, offering a pointed rebuttal to actor Timothée Chalamet’s recent remarks suggesting that “no one cares” about ballet or opera. Copeland, a groundbreaking figure as the first Black female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, didn’t mince words, even noting her involvement in promoting Chalamet’s Oscar-nominated film, Marty Supreme, in which she donned a promotional jacket.
Speaking at an Aveeno skincare panel, as reported by Variety, Copeland highlighted the irony of Chalamet inviting her to promote his film with a nod to her art form. “First, I have to say that it’s very interesting that he invited me to be a part of promoting Marty Supreme with respect to my art form,” Copeland stated. “I think that it’s important that we acknowledge that, yes, this is an art form that’s not ‘popular’ and a part of pop culture as movies are, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have enduring relevance in culture.”
The retired dancer emphasized the historical significance of these art forms, noting, “There is a reason that the opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years.” She went on to suggest a direct link between these traditional arts and Chalamet’s own success. “He wouldn’t be an actor and have the opportunities he has as a movie star if it weren’t for opera and ballet and their relevance in that medium,” she asserted.
Chalamet’s initial comments, which sparked a viral debate among performers and fans alike, arose during a live conversation with Matthew McConaughey for Variety last month. The discussion revolved around the challenges of capturing audience attention in an era of shrinking attention spans. McConaughey questioned whether studios were prematurely cutting film acts to reach “the conflict” faster.
Chalamet acknowledged a desire among younger audiences for slower-paced films, citing Netflix’s Frankenstein as an example. However, he also mused on the balance between serious cinema and quick entertainment.
“I’m really right in the middle, Matthew. I admire people, and I’ve done it myself, who go on a talk show and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to keep movie theaters alive, we’ve gotta keep this genre alive,’ and another part of me feels like if people want to see it, like Barbie, like Oppenheimer, they’re going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it.”
It was then that Chalamet delivered the controversial line: “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera where it’s like, ‘Hey! Keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore.’”
He quickly added, with a laugh, “All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership.
I’m taking shots for no reason.”
The clip rapidly circulated online, drawing reactions from a diverse array of public figures including Whoopi Goldberg, Doja Cat, and numerous theater professionals. Representatives for Chalamet have been contacted for comment regarding Copeland’s statements.