Misty Copeland has entered the chat about Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet\u2019s viral claim that \u201cno one cares about\u201d ballet and opera anymore. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The retired American Ballet Theatre dancer, who made history as the first Black woman principal dancer at the ABT, weighed in on the Oscar nominee\u2019s recent comments about the performance art forms being obsolete while <\/span>she spoke on a panel<\/span><\/a> for Aveeno on March 8. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n During the event, Copeland pointed out Chalamet\u2019s hypocrisy, reminding the audience that she was part of a promo for the actor\u2019s \u201cMarty Supreme\u201d film, which hit theaters in late December. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cFirst, I have to say that it\u2019s very interesting that he invited me to be a part of promoting \u2018Marty Supreme\u2019 with respect to my art form,\u201d the dancer said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Copeland appeared to be referring to a November 2025 <\/span>collaborative promotional Instagram post<\/span><\/a> that was<\/span> shared by both the film\u2019s official Instagram account and Copeland. The post included a photo of the dancer donning a \u201cMarty Supreme\u201d jacket and a photo of Copeland dancing ballet as a child with the caption \u201cDream Big.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBut I think that it\u2019s important that we acknowledge that, yes, this is an art form that is not popular and a part of pop culture as movies are,\u201d she continued. \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t have enduring relevance in culture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Copeland argued that it is \u201coften mistaken when something is popular that it\u2019s more meaningful or more impactful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n She then added, \u201cThere\u2019s a reason that the opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years,\u201d before noting that \u201caccess and opportunity\u201d can \u201cchange your life.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the work that I\u2019ve been doing \u2026 my whole career is to bring more people into it,\u201d Copeland shared. \u201cSo that people do understand the importance and the relevance of it in our communities and our culture, and you see it reflected everywhere.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Copeland then took aim at the \u201cDune\u201d star, telling the audience that \u201che wouldn\u2019t be an actor and have the opportunities he has as a movie star if it weren\u2019t for opera and ballet and their relevance in that medium.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Concluding her message, the ballerina said, \u201cSo all of these mediums have a space, and we shouldn\u2019t be comparing them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Chalamet made his controversial comments about ballet and opera in February at a celebrity.land<\/a> and Variety town hall event in Austin, Texas, alongside Matthew McConaughey.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it\u2019s like, \u2018Hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore,\u2019\u201d he told McConaughey<\/a> during the event. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Chalamet immediately added, \u201cAll respect to the ballet and opera people out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n He then added, \u201cDamn, I just took shots for no reason.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Chalamet has not yet publicly addressed Copeland\u2019s remarks. Representatives for Chalamet didn\u2019t immediately respond to celebrity.land\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Copeland\u2019s remarks about the actor come just days before she and Chalamet are scheduled to appear at the Oscars on Sunday. Copeland is expected to join in on a performance for the Oscar-nominated song \u201cI Lied to You\u201d from \u201cSinners,\u201d while Chalamet is up for another nod this awards season for Best Actor for his role in \u201cMarty Supreme.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Misty](\"https:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/69b2eb2f1b00007dd414e0c1.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale\")
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