Timothée Chalamet continues to get backlash for his comments at a town hall. The man up for Best Actor at Sunday’s Academy Awards told an audience recently that ballet and opera were irrelevant to people these days. Misty Copeland is a ballet dancer who has worked primarily for the American Ballet Theatre (ABT).
She was used to promote his acclaimed movie Marty Supreme. While Misty acknowledges ballet and opera may not be as popular as movies, they still have a significant role in culture today for her.
Misty says Timothée “wouldn’t be an actor” without ballet or opera
The ballet and opera are two art forms that have stood the test of time. That’s something Misty was quick to point out during a recent stop to promote an Aveeno campaign. There is a reason “opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years,” notes Misty. She adds that without ballet, Timothée “wouldn’t be an actor.” Misty pointed out that the relevance and medium in ballet and opera provide him with unique opportunities.
Timothée’s belief that “no one cares” about ballet or opera drew widespread criticism. Singer Doja Cat mentioned how the two have been around for centuries. She adds that the etiquette factor is something she appreciates, as audiences are typically completely silent during ballet or opera performances. London’s Royal Ballet and Opera noted last week how thousands of people gather nightly to see their shows.
Misty was considered a prodigy in her discipline, who didn’t start dancing until she was 13. In 2015, she became the first African American woman to become a principal dancer at the ABT in the company’s 75-year history. She performed in ballets like Romeo and Juliet, and Swan Lake, while also portraying Ivy Smith in a Broadway revival of On the Town. She retired from ABT in 2025.
Marty Supreme, which she helped promote, is up for Best Picture at Sunday’s Oscars.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE TIMOTHEE CHALAMET MADE A BAD MOVE WITH HIS COMMENTS?
