Spielberg Slams Chalamet Amid Oscars Controversy

'Honestly, I'm shocked that someone so seemingly successful can be so ineloquent and narrow-minded in his views about art while considering himself as an artist as I would only imagine one would as an actor,' said American opera star Isabel Leonard. 

Canadian mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny said: 'What a disappointing take. There is nothing more impressive than the magic of live theatre, ballet and opera. We should be trying to uplift these art forms, these artists and come together across disciplines to do that. The impact of these mediums are long, long-lasting and life-changing.'

Nathan Lane, an Oscar nominee and three-time Tony winner, lambasted Chalamet as a 'schmuck' while discussing the controversy on . 

'One doesn't want to give this more attention than it deserves, and yet, it was kind of kaleidoscopic in its stupidity and insensitivity,' he said.

'It's strangely telling about where we are in this country. First of all, one should remember people will be going to see Swan Lake and La Traviata long after someone at a dinner party says: "Who is Timothee Chalamet?"'

Turning his disdain on Marty Supreme, Lane quipped that 'if you think nobody cares about opera and ballet, I can't tell you how much we don't care about ping pong!' 

He added: 'In his defense, he was doing it with Matthew McConaughey, so I'm thinking some weed was smoked and this may just be a tragic case.'

However Chalamet was defended by Slovak pop act Adela, who began her showbiz career as a ballerina but is now opening for Demi Lovato on tour as a singer.

'I think people are maybe blowing it out of proportion,' she said when she was asked about Chalamet's remarks in an LAX interview with TMZ. 

'I've seen it but it's just like, I don't think he meant it like that. I think it's fine,' she added. 'He's not wrong. It is kind of a dying art form. It's sad. If anything, he just highlighted that. I think people are very upset, but as a ballerina, it kinda is. People should be going to the ballet more. Honestly, maybe this is good publicity.'

Another gentle response

'I am convinced that a sensitive performer like Timothee, who understands the power of emotions, may one day discover that opera and dance draw from that very same source,' the singing superstar said in a statement to People.

'Should he ever be curious, I would be happy to welcome him as a guest at one of my concerts. Sometimes it only takes a few minutes of hearing this music live to understand why, after centuries, it continues to be loved all over the world.'

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