Doja Cat is speaking out after Timothée Chalamet’s recent comments about ballet and opera resurfaced online, pushing back on the actor’s claim that “no one cares” about the centuries-old art forms anymore.
The rapper addressed the remarks in a video posted to TikTok, where she challenged Chalamet’s take and defended the cultural and artistic significance of both ballet and opera. The response came after a clip from a CNN and Variety town hall event in Austin, Texas, featuring Chalamet and Matthew McConaughey, began circulating widely on social media.
During the event, Chalamet spoke candidly about the type of work he hopes to pursue in his acting career. At one point in the conversation, the Oscar-nominated actor said he did not want to work in spaces like ballet or opera where, in his words, people might be trying to “keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore.”
The actor appeared to recognize the potential impact of his comment almost immediately. After making the statement, he added that he meant no disrespect to people involved in those art forms, saying he had “just took shots for no reason.”
As the clip gained traction online, Doja Cat offered a pointed response in a TikTok video that was later deleted. In the video, the 30-year-old artist highlighted the long history of both disciplines while addressing Chalamet directly.
“Opera is 400 years old. Ballet is 500 years old,” she said before referencing the actor by name and questioning his claim that audiences no longer care about the art form.
Doja Cat argued that theaters continue to fill with audiences and that there is a longstanding etiquette associated with attending performances. She described opera and ballet as respected theatrical media that demand discipline and dedication from performers.
The rapper also spoke about the daily work required of dancers and singers, noting that performers often spend long hours training and rehearsing out of respect for their craft. She emphasized that many people continue to care deeply about these artistic traditions, even as different entertainment industries face their own challenges.
While acknowledging that various creative fields experience difficult periods, Doja Cat maintained that hardship within an industry does not mean audiences have lost interest. She pointed out that performers, audiences, and supporters still show up for these art forms.
Before concluding her remarks, Doja Cat encouraged Chalamet to reconsider his perspective and suggested that he could learn something from the longstanding traditions surrounding opera and ballet.
The exchange quickly became a talking point online, placing the spotlight on a broader conversation about the relevance and appreciation of traditional performing arts in modern culture.
