Justine Bateman has entered the chat after Timothée Chalamet’s controversial comments about ballet and opera made their rounds on social media.
“Ballet, Opera, and Theater work has been around much longer than that of Film and TV,” Bateman, 60, wrote via X on Monday, March 9. “Every filmmaker should pray they’re [sic] film/series lasts as long as the work from those enduring performing arts.”
Bateman’s comment was seemingly made in response to a viral clip from Chalamet’s CNN and Variety February 24 town hall with Matthew McConaughey on February 24, where Chalamet, 30, criticized classical performing arts.
“I admire people, and I’ve done it myself, who go on a talk show and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to keep movie theaters alive, we’ve gotta keep this genre alive,’ and another part of me feels like if people want to see it, like Barbie, like Oppenheimer, they’re going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it,” he told McConaughey, 56. “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 Marty Supreme actor acknowledged that the statement could be contentious, quipping, “I just lost 14 cents in viewership. I just took shots for no reason.”
Bateman’s comments section was full of mixed reactions, with some defending Chalamet’s point.
“I love them all, but the only reason I can see ballet is because wealthy donors keep the doors open. All he said was he didn’t want that to happen to film,” one person wrote.
“But he didn’t trash those art forms. He just said they have become niche – which they have – and expressed the concern that film would become niche,” another said. “The guy is being pilloried for something he didn’t say.”
“It’s the dumbest of controversies. It’s one actors opinion, and a passing comment at that,” a third person added.
Other X users sided with Bateman on the now-widely debated matter.
“Timothée Chalamet should pray he is interesting enough down the road and can make more interesting movies because trust me, ballet, opera and symphony orchestra concerts WILL OUTLIVE him. People love what is familiar—Swan Lake is more familiar and beloved than Marty Supreme,” one person wrote.
“Thank you, Justine. Like me, millions of people around the world took ballet class today! ????,” a second person said.
Following the interview clip going viral, The Royal Ballet and Opera released a statement condemning Chalamet’s comments.
“Ballet and opera have never existed in isolation — they have continually informed, inspired, and elevated other art forms,” the statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter on March 6 read. “Their influence can be felt across theatre, film, contemporary music, fashion, and beyond. For centuries, these disciplines have shaped the way artists create and audiences experience culture, and today millions of people around the world continue to enjoy and engage with them.”
