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The backlash from Timothee Chalamet's comments about how 'no one cares' about opera and ballet continues to grow.
The latest star to speak out against the Oscar nominee is Nathan Lane, a legendary theater and movie actor.
'What a schmuck!' began the 70-year-old Birdcage actor while on The View on Thursday.
'One doesn't want to give this more attention than it deserves, and yet, it was kind of kaleidoscopic in its stupidity and insensitivity.'
'It's strangely telling about where we are in this country. First of all, one should remember people will be going to see Swan Lake and La Traviata long after someone at a dinner party says, "Who is Timothée Chalamet?"' he added.
The backlash from Timothee Chalamet's comments about how 'no one cares' about opera and ballet continues to grow. Seen on March 1 in Los Angeles
The latest star to speak out against the Oscar nominee is Nathan Lane, a legendary theater and movie actor; seen in 2024
'It's the show business circle of life,' he added.
The Marty Supreme Oscar star made the comments when chatting with Matthew McConaughey during a Variety and CNN town hall on February 24.
'The bigger question is, why was there a town hall meeting with Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet? Who deemed this meeting of the minds here necessary? Why isn't there a town hall meeting with Democrats discussing how to get this lunatic out of the White House?' he said.
Lane then took another shot at Chalamet by saying no one was really into ping pong, a dig at his Marty Supreme film.
'I've got news for Timmy — if you think nobody cares about opera and ballet, I can't tell you how much we don't care about ping-pong!' he added. 'In his defense, he was doing it with Matthew McConaughey, so I'm thinking some weed was smoked and this may just be a tragic case.'
Lane was on The View to promote his run on Broadway's Death of a Salesman.
Misty Copeland has also spoken out against Chalamet's comments as have Sheryl Lee Ralph and Karla Sofía Gascón.
Misty Copeland has also spoken out against Chalamet's comments as have Sheryl Lee Ralph and Karla Sofía Gascón; seen on March 8 in New York City
Andrea Bocelli invited Chalamet to one of his concerts to help him understand the appeal of opera.
The 67-year-old legendary tenor said in a statement to People: 'I am convinced that a sensitive performer like Timothée, who understands the power of emotions, may one day discover that opera and dance draw from that very same source.
'Should he ever be curious, I would be happy to welcome him as a guest at one of my concerts.
'Sometimes it only takes a few minutes of hearing this music live to understand why, after centuries, it continues to be loved all over the world.'
The singer praised the way both art forms 'answer a deep need for beauty, truth and emotion,' as well as the ability to evolve and move between generations.
He added: 'I believe we often tend to keep our distance from what we have not yet truly encountered.
Andrea Bocelli invited Chalamet to one of his concerts to help him understand the appeal of opera. The 67-year-old tenor said in a statement to People: 'I am convinced that a sensitive performer like Timothée, who understands the power of emotions, may one day discover that opera and dance draw from that very same source'; seen in February
'Opera and ballet are art forms that have crossed centuries and continue to speak to the human heart, because they answer a deep need for beauty, truth and emotion.
'They are not arts of the past, but living languages that can still move us, make us reflect, and bring different generations together.'
In the video, the 30-year-old actor said: 'I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera where it’s like, "Hey! Keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore."
'All respect to the ballet and opera people out there … I just lost 14 cents in viewership. I’m taking shots for no reason.'
Chalamet has yet to respond to the backlash.
English (US) ·