Opinion

DAVID MARCUS: Timothée Chalamet's right, the Left ruined ballet and opera

The 'Dune' star said he doesn't want to work in art forms where 'no one cares about this anymore'

By David Marcus Fox News

Published March 8, 2026 7:59pm EDT

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Timothée Chalamet crashes his own look-alike contest in New York City

Timothée Chalamet surprised fans gathered for a Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest in New York City, stopping to take a few photos.

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Timothée Chalamet is under fire this week and losing traction in the best actor Oscar race for saying just about the most obvious thing in the world: Nobody cares about ballet or opera in 2026.

Here is the exact quote from the "Dune" and "Marty Supreme" star during a recent CNN town hall: "I don't want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it's like, 'Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore.' All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there."

The backlash was swift and severe. According to the BBC, Canadian mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny described Chalamet's comments as a "disappointing take" while, American artist Franz Szony wrote, "Two classical art forms that have been around for hundreds of years, both of which take a massive amount of talent and discipline this man will never possess."

Timothée Chalamet, right, look on in the first quarter of Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs between the........

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