Misty Copeland, a retired American Ballet Theatre dancer and the first Black woman principal dancer at ABT, has criticized Timothée Chalamet's recent comments dismissing ballet and opera as irrelevant. During a panel for Aveeno on March 8, Copeland argued that these art forms have enduring cultural significance and have influenced Chalamet's acting career.
Key Takeaways
Misty Copeland criticized Timothée Chalamet's comments dismissing ballet and opera as irrelevant. She argued that these art forms have enduring cultural significance and have influenced his acting career.
- Misty Copeland says Timothée Chalamet 'wouldn't be an actor' without ballet and opera
- Copeland highlights the irony of promoting Chalamet's film despite his comments
- Ballet and opera companies respond with promotional discounts referencing Chalamet
Copeland pointed out the irony of being invited to promote Chalamet's film 'Marty Supreme,' for which he is nominated for an Oscar. She noted that ballet and opera have been around for over 400 years and argued that access and opportunity in these art forms can change lives.
'There's a reason that the opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years,' Copeland said. 'And I think that when you have access, you have opportunity to be a part of something, it can change your life.'
She also emphasized that popularity does not equate to meaningfulness or impact. 'I think it's often mistaken when something is more popular that it's more meaningful or impactful,' Copeland added.
Copeland concluded by stating that all art forms have a space and should not be compared. She argued that Chalamet 'wouldn't be an actor and have the opportunities he has as a movie star if it weren't for opera and ballet and their relevance in that medium.'
Chalamet made his controversial comments during a CNN and Variety town hall event in Austin, Texas, alongside Matthew McConaughey. He immediately added that he meant no disrespect to ballet and opera enthusiasts.
Ballet and opera companies responded to Chalamet's comments with promotional discounts referencing the actor. The Metropolitan Opera posted a behind-the-scenes video with the caption 'This one's for you @tchalamet,' and the Seattle Opera offered a 14% discount with the code 'Timothee.'
Copeland is set to perform at the Oscars on Sunday, joining in on a performance for the Oscar-nominated song 'I Lied to You' from 'Sinners.' Chalamet is up for another nod this awards season for Best Actor for his role in 'Marty Supreme.'
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.