UT Stories

Vol. 3 [UT Stories] Arts World Responds to Timothée Chalamet’s Remarks

14 Mar 2026 • 2 min read

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Actor Timothée Chalamet sparked controversy in the arts world after comments made during a CNN and Variety Town Hall with Matthew McConaughey (RTF ’93, professor of practice at the Moody College of Communication) at the University of Texas at Austin (UT), where he said “and I don't wanna be working in ballet or opera, or, you know, things where it's like, hey, keep this thing alive, Even though it's like, no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership.” (Variety; Spectrum News 1; Culturemap Dallas)
The remarks drew swift pushback from prominent figures across both art forms, including Andrea Bocelli and Misty Copeland, who spoke up in defense of ballet and opera. (Culturemap Dallas)
Chalamet's family ties to the performing arts added an ironic layer to the story: as noted on a March 9 episode of "The View," his grandmother, mother, and sister all performed with the New York City Ballet. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg weighed in, noting that dismissing another person's art form is hurtful to those who practice it. (Spectrum News 1)

Ballet Austin turned the moment into a savvy promotional opportunity, announcing free tickets to anyone named Timothy, Timothee, or Timothée for the world premiere of "Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles," running March 27–29 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. To claim a ticket, eligible individuals simply need to message Ballet Austin on social media with proof of their name. All other attendees can purchase tickets ranging from $25 to $125. (Spectrum News 1; Culturemap Dallas)
In their announcement, Ballet Austin pointedly noted that Chalamet had been in Austin for the town hall — just down the street from the company — and used the moment to highlight that ballet is not in decline but actively evolving and attracting new audiences in cities like Austin. (Spectrum News 1; Culturemap Dallas)
The production features an original score by Austin-based composer Graham Reynolds, known outside classical circles and for composing movie soundtracks, and centers on Marie Antoinette's fictional turn as a vampire seeking power, immortality, and vengeance. (Culturemap Dallas)

Chalamet's original point was made in the context of a broader discussion about audience engagement in cinema. He juxtaposed major mainstream films with classical art forms, arguing that when audiences genuinely want to see a film, they show up organically without performers needing to advocate for the art form's seriousness. McConaughey largely sided with Chalamet's underlying point after the actor's brief walk-back. (Culturemap Dallas)