Misty Copeland is speaking out after Timothée Chalamet claimed that “no one cares about” ballet and opera.
The retired American Ballet Theatre dancer addressed the Marty Supreme actor, whose recent comments on the art forms sparked controversy, while speaking on a panel on March 8.
“First I have to say that it’s very interesting that he invited me to be a part of promoting Marty Supreme with respect to my art form,” Copeland said, referencing a November 2025 collaborative Instagram post. The social media promotion, which was shared by both Copeland and the Marty Supreme Instagram account, included a photo of Copeland wearing a Marty Supreme windbreaker and a photo of her dancing ballet as a child.
“But I think that it’s important that we acknowledge that, yes, this is an art form that’s not ‘popular’ and a part of pop culture as movies are,” she said at the at the launch of Aveeno and TOGETHXR’s The Strength Issue in New York. “But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have enduring relevance in culture.”
Copeland, who a decade ago became the first Black principal ballerina in ABT’s history, explained that it is “often mistaken when something is popular that it’s meaningful or more impactful.”
“There’s a reason that the opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years,” she said, adding that “access and opportunity” can “change your life.”
“That’s the work that I’ve been doing my whole career is to bring more people into it,” Copeland shared. “So that people do understand the importance and the relevance of it in our communities and our culture, and you see it reflected everywhere.”
“I mean, he 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,” the ballerina said about Chalamet. “So all of these mediums have a space and we shouldn’t be comparing them.”
Both Copeland and Chalamet are both expected to attend the 2026 Oscars on Sunday, March 15. Copeland is scheduled to appear during a performance of Sinners‘ Oscar-nominated original song “I Lied to You” led by Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq. Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey, Alice Smith, Eric Gales, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Sinners actresses Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li will also be making an appearance during the segment.
Chalamet is nominated for best actor for his performance in Marty Supreme. His fellow nominees include Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the 2026 Oscars will air live on Sunday on ABC and Hulu from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles at 4 p.m. PT.
