By Zoe Papadakis | Monday, April 20, 2026
Charlize Theron has criticized Timothée Chalamet over remarks he made about ballet and opera, in which he implied that “no one cares about this anymore.”
In an interview, Theron described his recent assessment of classical performing arts as “very reckless.”
During a discussion with interviewer Lulu Garcia-Navarro, Theron argued that ballet and opera are “two art forms that we need to lift up constantly” because of the financial and cultural hurdles they face.
Reacting to Chalamet’s comments, Theron said: “Oh, boy, I hope I run into him one day.”
Theron framed her criticism around automation risks, stating that while AI might eventually take over movie sets, it cannot replicate the raw human presence of a live stage performance. She added that while the film industry is susceptible to digital disruption, the physical reality of the stage offers a unique defense.
“In 10 years, AI will be able to do Timothée’s job,” Theron said, “but it will not be able to replace a person on a stage dancing live.”
She noted that the discipline required for such performances is something “we shouldn’t [expletive] on.”
Theron, whose background is in dance, described the craft as “borderline abusive” and emphasized that dancers “don’t get a day off.” She characterized the discipline as the ultimate test of endurance: “Dance is probably one of the hardest things I ever did. Dancers are superheroes. What they put their bodies through in complete silence.”
Theron recounted her own experiences, including blood infections from blisters that never healed. “You have to practice every single day—the mindset of just not giving up, there’s no other option, you keep going,” she said. “I’m literally talking about bleeding through your shoes.”
The controversy centers on Chalamet’s comments at a recent town hall event. He discussed the success of films like Barbie and Oppenheimer, suggesting that audiences are “loud and proud” about supporting the entertainment they choose.
Chalamet stated: “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it’s like, ‘Keep this thing alive even though no one cares about this anymore.’” Though he acknowledged respect for professionals in those fields, Chalamet maintained that interest in them had waned.
In response, the Metropolitan Opera posted a video montage on Instagram with the caption: “This one’s for you, @tchalamet…” The U.K.’s Royal Ballet and Opera also issued a public rebuttal, inviting Chalamet to attend a show and noting that “thousands of people” still fill their seats for the “magic of live performance.” Their post concluded: “If you’d like to reconsider, @tchalamet, our doors are open.”
Zoe Papadakis has been a reporter, writer, and editor with two decades of experience in media and entertainment.
