Whoopi Goldberg publicly addressed Timothée Chalamet’s controversial remarks about ballet and opera during a March 9 episode of The View, cautioning the actor to be more respectful toward these art forms. The discussion was prompted by Chalamet’s comments at a recent Variety and CNN town hall, where he expressed a dismissive attitude saying,
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.’
Chalamet’s remarks have sparked significant backlash within the arts community and beyond.
Goldberg, an Oscar-winning actress, emphasized the hurt that such disparaging statements cause, telling Chalamet,
When you crap on somebody else’s art form, it doesn’t feel good. It doesn’t feel good to see.
She noted that while Chalamet recognized the potential offense his words could cause, he did not retract them, instead joking about the consequences with,
I just lost 14 cents in viewership,
adding,
I just took shots for no reason.
Goldberg urged Chalamet to consider the broader impact of his statements, warning,
And you probably didn’t realize that until you said, ‘Oh, I’m in trouble,’ but then you compounded it and said, like, ‘14 cents.’ No, when people get mad, it’ll be a lot more than 14 cents. So be careful,
followed by,
I’m just saying. Be careful, boy.
After the audience reacted, she clarified her intention,
He is a boy to me. He’s a boy to me. So no disrespect. And, really, don’t apologize when you’ve insulted, because it doesn’t sound right. You know, you can’t say, ‘Oh, this is dumb, no disrespect….’ That’s absolute disrespect.
Co-Hosts and Peers Criticize Chalamet’s Statement on The View
In the same segment, Goldberg’s co-hosts expressed strong reactions to the actor’s comments. Sunny Hostin, who is affiliated with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, openly shared her feelings of offense and disappointment, stating,
I didn’t realize that he was that vapid and that shallow,
referring to Chalamet’s remarks. Hostin, 57, highlighted the hurt caused to those deeply connected to the dance world.
Sara Haines brought attention to Chalamet’s family background, noting with irony that his grandmother, mother, and sister all have ties to the New York City Ballet. She suggested the actor might have misunderstood the international significance of ballet and opera, saying,
But I also feel like this is a good example of where people are so American culture-centric. Like, these are international art forms,
adding that Chalamet may have spoken from
a place of not knowing that.
Guest co-host Sheryl Underwood offered a nuanced perspective by proposing that Chalamet might hold a greater appreciation for ballet if he had portrayed a dancer like Rudolf Nureyev instead of a ping-pong player in a film role. She commented,
would respect the art form a little bit better.
Broader Artistic Community Reacts to Chalamet’s Ballet Controversy
Following the backlash, various artists and institutions have publicly addressed Chalamet’s comments. Grammy-winning opera singer Isabelle Leonard expressed her shock on social media over the actor’s dismissive view, calling it
shocked that someone so seemingly successful can be so ineloquent and narrow-minded in his views about art.
Canadian opera singer Deepa Johnny characterized his opinion as a disappointing take. Musician and singer Doja Cat also criticized Chalamet in a now-deleted TikTok video, highlighting his audacity to claim that no one cares about opera and ballet. She stressed,
It doesn’t matter if the industry is having a tough time at any time — which, a lot of industries have a tough time. Your industry has a tough time, my industry has a tough time,
and added,
Doesn’t mean people don’t care about it. People care. The dancers care, the singers care, the audience cares. There’s still an audience.
Major Cultural Institutions Defend Ballet and Opera Against Chalamet’s Remarks
The Metropolitan Opera responded to Chalamet’s comments with an Instagram video showing behind-the-scenes moments of their productions, accompanied by the message,
All respect to the opera (and ballet) people out there.
Likewise, the Royal Ballet and Opera in London issued a statement on their social media, affirming the enduring popularity of these art forms:
Every night at the Royal Opera House, thousands of people gather for ballet and opera. For the music. For the storytelling. For the sheer magic of live performance.
The Royal Ballet and Opera concluded their statement by inviting Chalamet to experience their performances firsthand, saying,
If you’d like to reconsider, @tchalamet, our doors are open,
encouraging a more appreciative engagement with ballet and opera.
Significance and Potential Impact of the Ballet Controversy
The “Timothée Chalamet ballet controversy” highlights the sensitivity surrounding the preservation and respect of traditional art forms in modern culture. Chalamet’s public dismissal has ignited a debate about the value and relevance of ballet and opera, particularly among new generations and within the entertainment industry itself. The backlash from artists, co-hosts, and cultural institutions demonstrates a collective defense of these art forms’ significance and the passionate communities that support them.
The incident may prompt other public figures to exercise greater care when discussing culturally significant arts to avoid alienating devoted audiences and practitioners. For Chalamet, the controversy serves as a reminder of the influence his words have and the responsibility that comes with celebrity status. As ballet and opera continue to evolve, the discourse sparked by this controversy could lead to increased efforts from these institutions to engage younger audiences and break down misconceptions about their relevance today.
