Renowned dancer Misty Copeland has weighed in after actor Timothée Chalamet sparked controversy with comments suggesting that “no one cares” about ballet or opera anymore.

Copeland — who made history as the first Black female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre — addressed the viral remarks while speaking at a panel for Aveeno skincare, pushing back against the idea that classical performing arts have lost their cultural importance.

Her response carried an added layer of irony.

Copeland noted that she had recently helped promote Chalamet’s Oscar-nominated film Marty Supreme and even shared a photo on Instagram wearing a jacket for the project.

“First, I have to say that it’s very interesting that he invited me to be a part of promoting Marty Supreme with respect to my art form,” Copeland said during the panel, according to Variety.

While acknowledging that ballet and opera may not dominate modern pop culture the way blockbuster movies do, Copeland argued that their historical and artistic significance remains undeniable.

“I think that it’s important that we acknowledge that, yes, this is an art form that’s not ‘popular’ and a part of pop culture as movies are,” she said, “but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have enduring relevance in culture.”

Copeland pointed out that both ballet and opera have survived centuries of cultural shifts — something she says speaks to their lasting importance.

“There’s a reason that the opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years,” she added.

She also suggested that the entire film industry owes something to the traditions of classical performance.

“He wouldn’t be an actor and have the opportunities he has as a movie star if it weren’t for opera and ballet and their relevance in that medium,” Copeland said.

Chalamet’s original comments came during a live conversation with actor Matthew McConaughey hosted by Variety last month.

During the discussion, the two actors were talking about how shrinking attention spans and social media-driven entertainment have changed the way audiences watch movies.

McConaughey raised the question of whether studios are cutting films shorter or rushing to get to the action faster because audiences struggle with slower storytelling.

Chalamet responded by arguing that audiences still show up for slower, more serious films when they are excited about them, pointing to recent hits like Barbie and Oppenheimer.

But the actor then joked about the challenges of trying to convince audiences to support certain art forms.

“I admire people who go on a talk show and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to keep movie theaters alive, we’ve got to keep this genre alive,’” Chalamet said.

Then he added the line that set off a wave of reactions online.

“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.’”

He quickly softened the comment.

“All respect to the ballet and opera people out there,” Chalamet said while laughing. “I just lost 14 cents in viewership. I’m taking shots for no reason.”

The clip spread quickly across social media, sparking debate among artists and fans about the future of traditional performing arts.

Several public figures — including Whoopi Goldberg, Doja Cat and theater performers — also weighed in on the conversation.