Timothée Chalamet offended many when he said, “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,’” in an interview with Matthew McConaughey, aired by Variety earlier this month.
The cultural backlash shows Gen Z’s inclination toward classical art forms is stronger than its loyalty to popular celebrities.
Opera and ballet companies posted videos in response to Chalamet’s interview with footage of dancers and opera singers, captioned with phrases such as “the art that ‘no one’ cares about.” In the following days, Chalamet lost more than a million followers across various platforms. Photos of a young Chalamet in dance attire, wearing an American Ballet Theatre hat (the company both his mother and his grandmother danced with), and starring in theater performances spread across the internet spectrum. Many cited his statement as yet another rejection of his past roles and cultural upbringing.
In a now-deleted Instagram story, Chalamet said, “In a recent interview, I expressed something I now regret saying. However, I still think it’s fair to ask whether my point was actually incorrect.”
Though Chalamet’s tone seems pompous, he raises a valid concern. Ballet and opera companies have demonstrated unease, with a 2021-2022 survey by The National Endowment for the Arts citing a 29% decrease in returning audience members and a 33% decrease in new audience members.
It’s tempting to assume interest in the arts is waning because young people consider them reserved for an elite class of wealthy elderly donors. But the main barrier is the cultural disconnect between the traditional stories and heritage reflected in these art forms and modern society’s values, according to a recent survey performed by The Wallace Foundation.
Chalamet’s comment generated a shock that caused young people to consider the value of these art forms, perhaps for the first time. If observation has proved anything about the youth of today, they love a cause.
In response to the cultural backlash, an article from The Guardian offered a solution to dwindling attendance by Gen Z. The piece suggested employing Bad Bunny to compose “trendy” opera, or creating ballets based on music by Lady Gaga.
But the article presents too low of an opinion of the youth, as avid members of Gen Z responded to this moment with edits of timeless performances — not ballet turned trendy.
The public’s response is conservative in nature, choosing to defend arts that have endured for hundreds of years rather than siding with a beloved celebrity who slipped up.
Chalamet’s career refutes his own statement. He grew up surrounded by dance and opera, and has continued to pursue the purest form of acting in his career. His actions are a driving force in cultural conservatism.
Chalamet seems to have colored public opinion with his comment, but not in the direction he intended. Gen Z isn’t suggesting a trendy revival, but rather a growing and involved appreciation of classical art forms.
