Can Timothée Chalamet Still Win an Oscar After Controversy?

Just days before the Academy Awards, the Best Actor race has taken an unexpected turn for Timothée Chalamet.

Chalamet, widely regarded as a frontrunner for his performance in Marty Supreme, playing eccentric 1950s ping-pong champion Marty Mauser, earned his third Best Actor nomination after previous nods in 2018 and 2025.

However, a clip from a February 24 town hall hosted by CNN and Variety resurfaced online, sparking controversy. In the clip, Chalamet explained his preference for film over other performing arts: “I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though it’s like no one cares about this anymore,'” he said, adding that he meant no disrespect.

The remarks drew swift criticism. Opera star Isabel Leonard called out Chalamet for taking “cheap shots at fellow artists,” arguing that the comments reflected poorly on the actor. Meanwhile, singer Doja Cat defended the importance of opera and ballet in a viral video response.

The controversy also became fodder for comedy. On Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, comedian Colin Jost joked about Chalamet’s remarks, noting the irony of criticizing other art forms while promoting a film about ping-pong.