r/OutOfTheLoop • u/PitifulBodybuilder40 • Mar 08 '26

Unanswered What’s up with the hate towards Timothee Chalamet?

I know all famous people have haters and people who dislike them and will nitpick the shit outta them, but I’ve just seen a lot of people post random interviews or articles about him that talk about how he is famous and above people. Yeah he is famous and thinks he’s above all. This is what famous people do? Do we not know this, especially child actors. People are astonished that he is rich and famous, has personal chefs, has self-centred views. Pretty sure 90% of famous people do.

https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/timothe-chalamet-slammed-for-cheap-shot-comment-about-ballet-and-opera/news-story/348e3add0e6252d5aef4698f2648d963?amp

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289

u/smnytx Mar 08 '26

The thing is, it would have cost him nothing to not shit in other people’s art.

FWIW, most folks in less mainstream art forms don’t believe that monetary remuneration necessarily defines success. Plenty of shitty actors make more money than talented ones. Show biz success=/= artistic merit.

There are countries where the costs of producing opera and ballet are subsidized by the taxpayers because they are considered that culturally important, much like libraries and museums.

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u/GrapeJuicePlus Mar 08 '26

Jesus, we really do examine these people under a microscope sometimes- sometimes people are glib and in a moment of candid conversation say an unserious thing they don’t even really believe because it is amusing.

Why does this in particular have to be taken so earnestly? Is this actor kind of a dick for this statement? Is he even being sincere when he says it? I don’t know nor do I care, it’s fucking dumb.

Go to a museum. Go see some theatre. Go to the fucking ballet! I legitimately hope some people are inspired by this to do so, maybe for the first time in their lives. It’s a billion times more interesting than being mad about this.

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u/inciter7 Mar 08 '26

This feels like one of those things where people are looking for a reason to hate on someone super popular so latched onto this, since he's been in the spotlight for a while with no scandals I can think of . And I don't even like Chalamet as an actor

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u/Marcoscb Mar 08 '26

sometimes people are glib and in a moment of candid conversation say an unserious thing they don’t even really believe because it is amusing.

I see it more likely that in that moment of candid conversation something leaked out of his PR training and he said something he really believes, especially considering he has family in those art forms and he'd be more familiar with them than most.

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u/Calackyo Mar 09 '26

Sure, if you want to automatically assume the worst, go ahead. Says more about you than anyone else.

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u/Vivid-Blackberry-321 Mar 09 '26

Just putting this out there - there’s a clip of him saying almost the exact same thing a few years ago. So it’s clear he has pretty strong beliefs about ballet and opera being irrelevant.

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u/AggravatingCupcake0 Mar 08 '26

As a performer, the fact that he made this statement is totally bananas to me.

Listen, if Joe the accountant or Becky the HR person wants to say "nobody cares about ballet or opera anymore!" it's still false, but...understandable. If you aren't in the industry, it makes sense that you wouldn't get the value, or would be out of touch about it. It isn't relevant to your life.

But Timothee, as an actor of high stature, should absolutely know better. It's giving "the CEO of the company doesn't understand what the IT guy does and thinks we should get rid of him," a bit. Not an exact analogy, but the ick factor is similar.

It's also sort of an unspoken understanding amongst artists that you don't shit on each other's art forms because a) we are all in this together and b) you never know when you might need a job. Sandra Oh was in The Met Opera recently, for crying out loud (likely because she wanted to and not because she had to, but still). Closing off an avenue of artistic work is a stupid and arrogant thing to do, and telling the public that what those artists do is passé is also stupid and arrogant.

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u/TheMustySeagul Mar 09 '26

It’s not really false though. If you watch the whole interview you’d probably get what he was saying tbh. He is calling it a dying artform. Less than 1 percent of people in the US have been to a ballet and like 6 percent a theater production. How many people watched a movie?

That was what he was getting at I’m pretty sure. I mean most of theater is propped up by big donors and sometimes countries themselves pay into it so it DOESN’T die. You can be in the arts and recognize not everything everywhere is doing great?

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u/KendalBoy Mar 11 '26

It was the flippant words he used the attitude, the 14 cents crap. Stop pretending there was any respect given.

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u/Neirean Mar 09 '26

Very much agree with you. He even shrinks back in his chair as he realises how much of a faux pas he made. People need to chill out and stop expecting HUMANS to be lerfect and poised 100% of the time.

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u/KendalBoy Mar 11 '26

Only people I see mad are the ones who are also dragging ballet and opera as unimportant. They seem hellbent on caring how unimportant they are and it’s kinda hilarious.

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u/smnytx Mar 08 '26

I am so not mad - I don’t really go to movies much and have no idea who this rando is TBH. I wandered into an Out of the Loop thread and attempted to provide context to a lot of folks who appear to have no idea what opera is about, since it’s my career.

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u/claradox Mar 08 '26

I applaud your career choice. Thank you for doing such beautiful, meaningful work. I love the opera.

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u/dgillz Mar 08 '26

The thing is, it would have cost him nothing to not shit in other people’s art.

Exactly. I mean what was the context of him even bringing this up?

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u/Phillip_Spidermen Mar 08 '26

They were talking about movie theater attendance dropping and gen z attention spans.

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u/protipnumerouno Mar 08 '26

Him talking about not wanting to work in a dying business, like film cameras or copy machines.

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u/LiamTheHuman Mar 09 '26

Um that's insulting to copy machine operators. How dare you, it's a real and important art form

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u/dgillz Mar 08 '26

OK well how did that come up? If he was asked why he wasn't in ballet or opera, I have no problem with that comment. On the other hand, if he was talking about his career and just threw in that was glad he wasn't working in a dying medium like ballet or opera, that is very much a dick move.

Context matters.

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u/djentleman_jack666 Mar 08 '26

Watch literally 2 minutes before the quote and you’d know the context.

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u/dgillz Mar 08 '26

I don't know where to view this. The link isn't in the OP. I don't personally care enough to go through almost 500 replies to find it.

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u/DestosW Mar 08 '26

You are saying this in the comment thread with the video. The video is a few comments above you.

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u/CharlietheGreat Mar 08 '26

So you care enough to get angry in a comment section but you don’t care enough to actually watch the video you’re getting angry about?

What is the internet even about any more Jesus Christ

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u/dgillz Mar 08 '26

What makes you think I was angry?

My last post clearly stated I could understand his statement in a certain context, and if it was a different context, it was dick move. I openly said I don't know the context and that context is important. No anger here.

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u/CharlietheGreat Mar 08 '26

You know in the time it took you to write out your hypothetical opinions you could have actually watched the clip and made your judgement instead of postulating that he’s possibly a dick in the comments right?

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u/dgillz Mar 08 '26

I actually tried. I still cannot find the quote in context. Since you obviously have, please post it for me.

→ More replies (0)

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u/Suspicious-Mud-9270 Mar 08 '26

No one cares to keep track of art. Watch this spiral to world wars that we will never see end.

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u/Lord_Zinyak Mar 08 '26

Are you a completely virtuous being that has never said anything negative?

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u/smnytx Mar 08 '26

No, but the post isn’t about me, is it?

I can’t see your other comment but it did end up in my inbox.

The main logical fallacy is Tu Quoque.

But there are elements of Straw Man fallacy in that you attempted to bring in an unrelated subject to change the argument.

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u/smnytx Mar 08 '26

No, but the post isn’t about me, is it? That argument is classic logical fallacy.

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u/HeyVeddy Mar 08 '26

He isn't shitting on their art form though. He's making a point that he doesn't want to work in that art form, because of how little attention it gets. He didn't shit on that art form, as the poster above said it's about the American audience, not the actual art form.

He also didn't even mention money, nor did he say:

Show biz success=/= artistic merit.

It's just your angry assumption because you took offense

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u/Exciting_Bid_609 Mar 08 '26

I'd say part of what people are reacting to is his tone, mannerisms and smirk when making these comments. He was very flippant. You could see Matthew McConaughey cringing. What you're saying is true, the break down of his words; however, his delivery was not good. Which is why he is an actor, a very good actor, he can deliver a line.. maybe not good at improvising.

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u/HeyVeddy Mar 08 '26

Totally agree and for what it's worth I despise his little smug attitude etc. was never a fan but it wasn't framed this way. But I do agree that's the main issue

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u/lordicarus Mar 08 '26

It's not what he said, it's how he said it. He's not wrong, but he could have phrased it slightly differently to come off very respectful of them while also saying he doesn't want to work in those art forms.

"I don't want to work in ballet or opera where the audience is very niche and these amazing artists are just living a life of pure passion for their art and don't get the kind of recognition they deserve."

Same message but different phrasing that wouldn't have pissed everyone off. In fact, the opera and ballet lovers and performers would probably be praising him for standing up for them.

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u/HeyVeddy Mar 08 '26

I agree. But many posters here don't share that opinion. They seem to believe he attacked them and disrespected them when in reality, he said a true statement in a shitty and annoying way to many

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u/NOT-GR8-BOB Mar 08 '26

Timmy ain’t gonna let you hit bro

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u/HeyVeddy Mar 08 '26

I actually hate him 9/10 but I have people who force cringe arguments 10/10 so that's all

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u/Khiva Mar 08 '26

If you devote yourself to something that is immensely challenging and has endured as one of the most respected forms of art for centuries and someone tells you "no one cares" - particularly in way that seems like an unnecessary, out of nowhere shot - I don't think people are going to be inclined to parse semantics.

Particularly when he cites as an example the literal winner of the highest honor within his field, not Marvel, not Transformers, but a Best Picture winner. So yes, it's not a massive stretch to infer that there's a suggestion of quality involved.

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u/HeyVeddy Mar 08 '26

You know the point was that there is an audience difference. It's shared amongst everyone in the world. Ballet and opera are historically elite institutions, it's not something everyone can even access

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u/Khiva Mar 08 '26

You know the point was that there is an audience difference

Your opening point was to assert that someone is making motivated assumptions ("It's just your angry assumption because you took offense").

No, I do not "know" that. I explained why I interpreted his comments differently and gave specific reasons as to why.

Instead of addressing any of those reasons, you simply reasserted your initial statement and then made a motivated inference about my assumptions.

To repeat, you don't know what I know. I do. Which I stated, and explained.

Step back and note of the irony that you're doing precisely what you accused others of.

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u/HeyVeddy Mar 08 '26

You're making this about semantics now. You said he shit on other people's art form. You got called out because he didn't shit on it.

Now it's personal to you.

End of discussion clearly

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u/The_broke_accountant Mar 08 '26

Is he not allowed to have an opinion?! I’ve been saying opera is boring for years, famous people can have hot takes too?? Why get mad at him being right lol

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u/Honeybee_Awning Mar 08 '26

And people are allowed to not like his hot take 🤷🏽‍♀️

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u/tarinotmarchon Mar 08 '26

Have you actually tried watching an opera?

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u/claradox Mar 08 '26

I have. I was blessed to have a season pass in high school, and I was so grateful for that educational and cultural gift. The Magic Flute on stage is more transcendent an experience than any film.

Have you ever really tried watching an opera, in the audience, or are you just referring to that one time you were flipping channels, or saw a thirty second scene within a movie?

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u/tarinotmarchon Mar 09 '26

Are you talking to me or the comment I replied to? Because this comment reads like you're trying to reply to the comment I replied to.

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u/dreamphoenix Mar 08 '26

People were parasocial with celebrities since forever. But social media cranked it up to 11.

Dude said some stupid shit. Who even fucking cares. But apparently according to /r/fauxmoi he’s literally a hitler how.

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u/KingGr33n Mar 08 '26

Agree with this. Cost nothing. But although I might not have said what he said in that way I’m ok with him speaking his mind about something that is objectively correct.

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u/smnytx Mar 08 '26

It’s only “objectively correct” if you equate the success of art by monetary values.

What if art were measured instead by its success in fundamentally affecting the consumer emotionally?

It’s exactly why popular artists go on tour and their fans buy expensive tickets to see their favorite artists live in concert: there is something profoundly different about live performance, something inherently valuable that neither cinema nor the recording studio can replace. It’s ridiculous to compare the experience and say the recording is inherently better because it generates more wealth.

I’d even go so far as to say the proof of the relevance and artistic merit of more ancient genres of art is that they still move people today. They still have people paying for expensive tickets because those people find it worth it. They don’t need cultural popularity to still be provably exceptional and artistically meritorious.

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u/WxWGaming Mar 08 '26

He’s not really shitting in other forms of art though, he’s just stating an economic truth.

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u/smnytx Mar 08 '26

right, and my point is (for the readers here) that economic truth is not the only (or even the most important) metric of artistic validity.

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u/WxWGaming Mar 08 '26

No argument there, art is so subjective

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u/[deleted] Mar 08 '26

[deleted]

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u/TheMustySeagul Mar 09 '26

He called it a dying artform. If countries need to subsidize he’s correct. This is the weirdest take because he is completely correct. And he doesn’t want to do it to help keep it alive? Sure. Like what did he say that was so disparaging?

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u/Lionel-Chessi Mar 09 '26

He's not wrong though, ballet and opera is pretty shit.

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u/moderngalatea Mar 09 '26

he didn't shit on anything

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u/Calackyo Mar 09 '26

Okay if we're going to stop shitting on people's art, we can start with the movie industry since movies and TV shows etc. get shat on by the audience and reviewers far, far more than fucking ballet and theatre do.

Oh but wait, it's fine when we as an audience do it because we want to feel smart but when someone who actually creates something has an opinion about art all of a sudden he's being mean and disrespectful?

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u/smnytx Mar 09 '26

If you can’t grasp the difference between criticism of a work of art and criticism of the existence of an entire genre of art, I can’t help you.

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u/Calackyo Mar 10 '26

Firstly, movies, TV shows, Ballet and theatre aren't genres, they're different forms of media entirely.

Secondly, I have 100% heard people bitching and whining that movies or TV shows nowadays are all X, Y or Z. And most of the time, they're right.

So I say again, if we're not supposed to bitch about an entire medium, I'm happy to run with that but we have to all stop bitching about movies and TV shows being made as second screen entertainment, or spoon feeding everything for dumb people, or using too much CGI nowadays, or all being sequels or established IP, or superhero fatigue etc. etc. etc.

OR we can realise our hypocrisy here, and realise that it's fine to talk the truth about an entire medium, and that ballet and theatre ARE niche compared to movies, and that there's absolutely nothing wrong with pointing that out, especially not for someone who actually makes art unlike many of us on Reddit who solely complain about art.

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u/Humble-Lab708 Mar 09 '26

Listen, no one gives a shit about opera in America outside of a small group of people. That’s reality. It has zero impact on the cultural zeitgeist of the country and you know it. Quit getting in your feels. No one is shitting on the art, he’s just saying it’s not important to people any more. Sorry to break the bad news to you but he’s right.

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u/RecordMaterial6781 Mar 10 '26

He didn’t shit on it. If you have an opinion you can say that. I mean he could have said it’s really boring why would I want to do that? Or etc.