Steven Spielberg shades Timothée Chalamet amid ballet, opera backlash

Anthony Robledo, USA TODAYSat, March 14, 2026 at 2:08 AM UTC

0

Steven Spielberg dipped his toes into the Timothée Chalamet discourse.

During an on‑stage interview at SXSW on March 13, the "Jaws" director made a subtle reference to the heat the "Marty Supreme" actor has recently received from the classical performing arts community.

Chalamet has been scrutinized for remarks he made during a CNN and Variety town hall posted Feb. 24. The Oscar-nominated actor was discussing Hollywood norms and the expectation that film actors champion the movie theater business when he said "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.'"

The "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" filmmaker was discussing the importance of preserving the moviegoing experience, saying that it's "about community and communication and getting along with each other, and that happens in movie theaters, not sitting around living rooms watching on television something that is up there on the screen to watch."

Steven Spielberg attends the 98th Oscar Nominees Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton on Feb. 10, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California.

"Netflix is a great company to work with, but the real experience comes when we can influence a community to congregate in a strange, dark space," he told Ringer journalist Sean Fennessy. "It happens in movies. It happens at concerts. And it happens in ballet and opera! and we want that to be sustained."

The panel was held at the Hilton Austin hotel, where Spielberg promoted his upcoming film "Disclosure Day."

The controversy surrounding Chalamet's comments comes ahead of the Academy Awards on March 15, where he is one of five nominees for Best Actor for his performance in "Marty Supreme."

Misty Copeland, Isabel Leonard, more performers speak out

Misty Copeland, one of America's premier ballerinas, was among those who addressed Chalamet's dig toward ballet and opera. She mentioned that Chalamet invited her to promote "Marty Supreme" and said the live arts still have "enduring relevance in culture" even if they aren't as "popular and a part of pop culture as movies are."

Advertisement

"I think that it's often mistaken that when something is popular, that it's more meaningful or more impactful," Copeland said. "There's a reason that the opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years, and I think when you have access and opportunity to be a part of something like that, it can change your life."

In the comment section of a Variety Instagram video sharing Chalamet's controversial remarks, opera singer Isabel Leonard said she was shocked that Chalamet would express "so ineloquent and narrow-minded in his views about art" while considering himself an artist.

"To take cheap shots at fellow artists says more in this interview than anything else he could say. Shows a lot about his character. You don't have to like all art but only a weak person/artist feels the need to diminish in fact the VERY arts that would inspire those who are interested in slowing down, to do exactly that," wrote Leonard, a three-time Grammy winner with a Carnegie Hall residency.

Berlin-based opera performer Dean Murphy combatted Chalamet's claim about a lack of interest in opera writing. "Opera has been around since the 16th century and is STILL alive and well today," he wrote. "I think that speaks volumes. What a shame that you don’t have respect for other art forms… which of course have also greatly influenced movies…"

1 / 0It was a family affair at the Actor Awards! See the most adorable moments

Teyana Taylor may have had the cutest date at the 2026 Actor Awards. From striking poses together on the carpet to celebrating their big nominations, these stars turned out with their families to enjoy SAG's newly renamed Actor Awards.

What has Timothée Chalamet said?

Chalamet has not addressed the outrage from the ballet and opera community regarding his remarks at the town hall.

In a December interview with USA TODAY, Chalamet revealed he grew up watching ballet as his sister, mother and grandmother were all ballerinas, and even compared the dance form to ping-pong. He drew the comparison while preparing for his role in "Marty Supreme," revealing he studied real-life ping-pong greats, including the late Marty Reisman, on whom the film is loosely based.

"The more table tennis I watched, the more balletic I realized the movements were and how graceful they could be," he said. "I grew up watching lots of ballet, and I feel like I incorporated more of my family's dance background into this than I ever have on anything – even on something like 'Wonka,' where I'm dancing."

He continued: "It just felt like a nice mixture: to try to have the spirit of a Mike Tyson or Michael Jordan, but the physicality of a George Balanchine or Mikhail Baryshnikov."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steven Spielberg shades Timothée Chalamet over ballet, opera remarks

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”