Charlize Theron slams Timothée Chalamet for his “reckless” comments about ballet and opera.
The “Monster” actress, who famously trained in ballet, told The New York Times in a new interview Saturday that dancing was “probably one of the hardest things[she]has ever done.”
“Dancers are superheroes. They put their bodies on the line in complete silence,” she said, to which the interviewer responded, “Sorry, Timothée Chalamet.”
“Oh, I hope I get to meet him someday,” Theron, 50, said.
“This was a very reckless comment about one art form, two art forms, which we always have to bring up because, yes, they do have difficulties,” she added.
“But in 10 years, AI will be able to do Timothy’s job, but it won’t replace a human dancing live on stage. And we shouldn’t (expletive) other art forms.”
The “Devil’s Advocate” star said dancing taught her discipline, structure, effort and how to be tough.
“This is borderline abuse. I’ve gotten blood infections several times from blisters that won’t heal. And there’s no time off,” she explained.
“I’m literally talking about bleeding through your shoes, and that’s something you have to practice every day. Just the mindset of not giving up, that there’s no other option, to keep going,” Theron concluded.
Page Six reached out to Chalamet for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
In February, Chalamet, 30, made headlines when he said, “I don’t want to work in ballet or opera where it’s like, ‘Hey! Nobody cares about this anymore, let’s keep this thing going.”
“With all due respect to the ballet and opera people…I just lost 14 cents in ratings. I’m taking pictures for no reason,” the “Dune” star said at the time at a town hall event produced by Variety and CNN.
Shortly after Chalamet’s comments went viral, several stars, including ballet legend Misty Copeland, publicly criticized Chalamet, saying his art “should not be compared” to other art forms.
“If it wasn’t for opera and ballet and their association in that medium, he wouldn’t have become an actor and he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be a movie star,” the 43-year-old ballet dancer explained.
Legendary film director Steven Spielberg also took aim at the “Wonka” actor’s comments.
“At the end of a really great movie experience, we all come together with a range of emotions and walk into the daylight or into the night together,” the 79-year-old “Jaws” director said during a panel discussion at SXSW 2026.
“And there is nothing like that. It happens in movies and concerts. By the way, it also happens in ballet and opera,” Spielberg added.
“We want it to last. We want it to last forever.”
Chalamet has not publicly commented on the backlash.
