Reaction to Timothée Chalamet's comment on opera and ballet prove they are not dying art forms

We need opera to keep reminding us of the frailty, failures and insecurities of humanity, and to learn from it, writes Aimee Kearney

Kylie Jenner (left) and Timothee Chalamet (right) greet Elle Fanning at the Oscars in March. He did not win an award. Whether or not it was because of his comments about opera and ballet one cannot be sure, but it certainly did not help his case. Photo: AP/Chris Pizzello

Now that some time has passed since actor Timothée Chalamet’s controversial interview with Matthew McConaughey on CNN, one can reflect on the situation and the reactions of people from a more broad, objective point of view. 

To paraphrase the interview in question, given in March this year, Chalamet boldly stated that opera and ballet are dying art forms which nobody cares about, and that he has no desire to work in these fields. The backlash and reactions to his comments were immediate and cutting.