While ballet and opera may appear to be fading art forms to Timothée Chalamet, in reality, they appear very much alive and inspire millions across the world. In response to the actor’s remarks on ballet and opera as dying, many voices from the performing arts community have spoken out about the popularity of these art forms, sparking a debate on social media. Perhaps this moment of controversy may also urge the rest to pause and look back at what these centuries-old art forms truly mean.

And one such is an Oscar-nominated movie, which shows the immense dedication, discipline, and years of tireless effort artists devote to bringing these art forms to life on stage. 

One of the most intense psychological thrillers revolving around an artist and the immense pressure on them is Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky. Natalie Portman gave a haunting performance as ballerina Nina Sayers, which ultimately earned her first and so far only Oscar win for Best Actress. The film itself was nominated in four more categories, which were Best Picture, Best Director (Aronofsky), Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. 

The movie is currently streaming on Netflix. It follows Nina, who is pushed toward a psychological breakdown by both her former ballerina mother, Erica, and her demanding director, as she gets obsessed with playing both the innocent and dark sides of a role. Nina’s struggles and the film’s tragic ending give a glimpse of the physical and emotional toll an artist takes throughout their career, along with the immense pressure that comes with it. 

Portman herself trained extensively, practicing swimming and ballet for hours to prepare for the role. So, it was not surprising that several artists who have dedicated years to ballet and opera called out Timothée Chalamet over his comment. The wave of reactions began after the actor, during a conversation with Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas at Austin, said that he does not wish to work as a ballet or opera performer. 

"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.'," he said.

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Chalamet’s comment has sparked an intriguing wave of people coming together to defend these art forms, with ballet companies and opera houses even offering free invitations to the Marty Supreme actor.

Artists across the world have voiced criticism of Timothée Chalamet’s recent comments about ballet and opera. In response, several opera houses have taken a gracious approach by inviting the actor himself to experience the power of live performance. The English National Opera even offered Chalamet free tickets to attend one of its shows. 

Meanwhile, the Royal Ballet & Opera warmly welcomed the actor to join them. The Seattle Opera took a more playful approach and hilariously used ‘Timothée’ as a promotional code for their production of Carmen, and encouraged the actor to use it too. Chalamet, who comes from a family with several ballet artists, is likely no stranger to the art form, though it remains unclear whether he has spent much time inside an opera house.

With invitations pouring in from across the opera world, it is yet to be seen if Chalamet will go to watch one of the plays. Until then, it is just the perfect time to watch or rewatch Black Swan on Netflix.

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Have you watched Black Swan? Let us know in the comments.