Timothée Chalamet roasted at Oscars after ballet comments as he loses best actor award
TOI GLOBAL | Mar 16, 2026, 21:19 IST
Timothee Chalamet faces backlash over "dying art forms" comment on Opera, Ballet
Timothée Chalamet lost the best actor Oscar for Marty Supreme after being mocked during the ceremony for his recent comments about ballet and opera. Michael B. Jordan won for Sinners, while Chalamet’s film went home without any awards despite multiple nominations.
Actor Timothée Chalamet had a difficult night at the 2026 Academy Awards, where he was the target of several jokes about his recent comments on ballet and opera and ultimately lost the best actor Oscar despite being considered an early favorite.
Chalamet was nominated for best actor for his role in Marty Supreme, a drama about an ambitious table-tennis prodigy, but the award went instead to Michael B. Jordan for his performance in Sinners. The loss came at the end of a ceremony where the actor’s recent controversy became a running joke.
Actor Timothée Chalamet had a difficult night at the 2026 Academy Awards, where he was the target of several jokes about his recent comments on ballet and opera and ultimately lost the best actor Oscar despite being considered an early favorite.
Chalamet was nominated for best actor for his role in Marty Supreme, a drama about an ambitious table-tennis prodigy, but the award went instead to Michael B. Jordan for his performance in Sinners. The loss came at the end of a ceremony where the actor’s recent controversy became a running joke.
Host Conan O'Brien joked during his opening monologue that security was tight at the ceremony because of possible “attacks from the opera and ballet communities,” a clear reference to criticism Chalamet faced in recent weeks.
The backlash began after Chalamet said during an interview that “no one cares” about ballet and opera, comments that drew strong reactions from artists and performers in those fields. The controversy resurfaced later in the show when filmmaker Alexandre Singh praised theater and ballet while accepting an award, in what many viewers saw as another indirect response to the actor’s remarks.
Several performers said the debate unexpectedly helped bring attention to classical arts. Singer Josh Groban said the discussion encouraged people to talk more about opera and ballet, while actress Fran Drescher defended Chalamet, saying he comes from an artistic background and likely did not intend to offend anyone.
Some of Chalamet’s colleagues also supported him on the red carpet, saying the criticism may have been exaggerated and that his comments were taken out of context.
Timothée Chalamet lost the best actor Oscar for Marty Supreme after being mocked during the ceremony for his recent comments about ballet and opera. Michael B. Jordan won for Sinners, while Chalamet’s film went home without any awards despite multiple nominations.
Marty Supreme entered the Oscars with several nominations, including best picture and best director, but failed to win any awards. Earlier in the season, Chalamet had won major prizes at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, making his loss at the Oscars a surprise to many industry watchers.
The actor had spoken openly during the campaign about his desire to win an Academy Award, even hosting special screenings and discussions about the film with fellow actors such as Ben Affleck and Edward Norton.
Chalamet previously received Oscar nominations for Call Me by Your Name and A Complete Unknown, but has yet to win.
Chalamet was nominated for best actor for his role in Marty Supreme, a drama about an ambitious table-tennis prodigy, but the award went instead to Michael B. Jordan for his performance in Sinners. The loss came at the end of a ceremony where the actor’s recent controversy became a running joke.
Actor Timothée Chalamet had a difficult night at the 2026 Academy Awards, where he was the target of several jokes about his recent comments on ballet and opera and ultimately lost the best actor Oscar despite being considered an early favorite.
Chalamet was nominated for best actor for his role in Marty Supreme, a drama about an ambitious table-tennis prodigy, but the award went instead to Michael B. Jordan for his performance in Sinners. The loss came at the end of a ceremony where the actor’s recent controversy became a running joke.
Oscars jokes reference ballet and opera backlash
Host Conan O'Brien joked during his opening monologue that security was tight at the ceremony because of possible “attacks from the opera and ballet communities,” a clear reference to criticism Chalamet faced in recent weeks.
The backlash began after Chalamet said during an interview that “no one cares” about ballet and opera, comments that drew strong reactions from artists and performers in those fields. The controversy resurfaced later in the show when filmmaker Alexandre Singh praised theater and ballet while accepting an award, in what many viewers saw as another indirect response to the actor’s remarks.
Arts community responds to controversy
Several performers said the debate unexpectedly helped bring attention to classical arts. Singer Josh Groban said the discussion encouraged people to talk more about opera and ballet, while actress Fran Drescher defended Chalamet, saying he comes from an artistic background and likely did not intend to offend anyone.
Some of Chalamet’s colleagues also supported him on the red carpet, saying the criticism may have been exaggerated and that his comments were taken out of context.
Film shut out despite multiple nominations
Marty Supreme entered the Oscars with several nominations, including best picture and best director, but failed to win any awards. Earlier in the season, Chalamet had won major prizes at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, making his loss at the Oscars a surprise to many industry watchers.
The actor had spoken openly during the campaign about his desire to win an Academy Award, even hosting special screenings and discussions about the film with fellow actors such as Ben Affleck and Edward Norton.
Chalamet previously received Oscar nominations for Call Me by Your Name and A Complete Unknown, but has yet to win.