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Timothée Chalamet was on top of the world, figuratively — and on top of The Sphere, literally — back in December when his A24 film Marty Supreme was released.
His performance received widespread praise from critics and audiences alike, and the buzz quickly put him at the front of the race for best actor at this year’s Academy Awards.
Coming only a year after the 30-year-old memorably professed in his SAG award acceptance speech that he is “in pursuit of greatness,” it seemed that greatness was in reach.
However, just days before Hollywood’s biggest night, the young star has invoked the ire of some of the most passionate artistic communities out there: ballet and opera.
While talking to actor Matthew McConaughey about keeping movie theatres alive at a CNN and Variety town hall event more than two weeks ago, Chalamet said he doesn’t “want to be working in ballet or opera,” which he said “no one cares about” anymore.
While he earned laughs from the live audience at the time, and ended off by saying “all respect to the ballet and opera people out there,” his comments have since gone viral and been met with swift backlash online. But is the backlash truly warranted? And will it have any effect on his chances at the coveted Oscar?
Today on Commotion, Hunter Harris and Ariella Garmaise join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to about what this controversy could mean for his awards run, and why the world suddenly seems to be turning on Hollywood’s golden boy.
WATCH | Today’s episode on YouTube:
You can listen to the full discussion from today’s show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.
Interview with Ira Wells produced by Jean Kim.
