Washington DC [US], April 13 : The debate over Timothee Chalamet's earlier remarks on opera and ballet may have slowed down, but filmmaker Luca Guadagnino has now spoken in support of the actor.
Guadagnino, who directed Chalamet in 'Call Me by Your Name' and later in 'Bones and All,' shared his views in an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa before the premiere of his adaptation of John Adams' 1991 opera The Death of Klinghoffer in Florence, reported The Hollywood Reporter.
According to the publication, the filmmaker spoke about the controversy that began after Chalamet said earlier this year that "no one really cares" about ballet or opera.
The comment drew backlash online and even became part of Conan O'Brien's opening joke at the Academy Awards in March.
While reacting to the matter, Guadagnino said the actor may have been better off avoiding the remark, but also spoke warmly about him. He said, "I am not on social media and don't understand how one [single] comment can become a planetary polemic. Maybe Timothee could have spared himself. But he's young, smart, sensitive, and he fears that cinema could become marginal. And that's exactly why every form of imagination should be nurtured. We must unite the arts, not separate them."
Guadagnino's comments come months after Chalamet's statement during a live conversation with Matthew McConaughey for Variety, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
At the time, Chalamet had said with a laugh, "I don't want to be working in ballet or opera where it's like, 'Hey! Keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore.' All respect to the ballet and opera people out there ... I just lost 14 cents in viewership. I'm taking shots for no reason."
The remarks were met with strong reactions from people in the performing arts world. American opera singer Isabel Leonard said she was surprised by the comment, while Canadian opera performer Deepa Johnny called it disappointing and said live theatre, ballet and opera should be supported.
Chalamet and Guadagnino have not worked together since 2022's Bones and All. The actor is next expected to be seen in the upcoming Dune sequel directed by Denis Villeneuve.
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