Timothée Chalamet recently missed out on the Best Actor gong at the 98th Academy Awards to Michael B. Jordan, and Hollywood insiders claim his talent wasn’t the issue, but his attitude.
Before the event, rumors surfaced that the actor was “quietly distancing” himself from girlfriend Kylie Jenner as part of efforts to win the award, but a source dispelled the reports that his romance with the reality TV star hurt his chances at the award.
Timothée Chalamet also garnered backlash for his controversial comment about Opera and ballet, which were brought up even during the Oscars broadcast.
Hollywood Insiders Reveal Why Timothée Chalamet Lost Out On The Award
For months, Chalamet appeared to be the nominee most likely to clinch the coveted Best Actor award at the Oscars for his performance in “Marty Supreme.”
However, it was an emotional Michael B. Jordan who took home the award for his dual role on “Sinners.”
Insiders have now opened up about the reason why the 30-year-old actor walked away empty-handed, noting that his attitude was off-putting for the majority of the voters.
According to reports, Chalamet spoke to seven Academy voters in the buildup leading to the film’s biggest night, but only one voted in his favor.
“Timothée is incredibly talented,” a voter told Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop. “But he’s very difficult.”
“Being on set with him isn’t a positive experience,” another voter claimed. “He’s arrogant.”
The More Voters Got To Know The Actor ‘The Less They Liked Him’
It appears Chalamet left much to be desired during the campaign, as his alleged difficult reputation quickly spread amongst other voters.
“He tried to control the PR and marketing strategy,” an industry insider explained. “This is a 30-year-old actor telling 50- and 60-year-old professionals how to do their jobs.”
“The more voters got to know him, the less they liked him,” another source shared. “There’s no love lost for Timmy.”
Some industry experts tried to blame his relationship with Jenner, as reports earlier claimed he was trying to stay away from her, but an insider suggested that it had nothing to do with the actor’s Oscars loss.
“This had nothing to do with Kylie,” one voter said. “She’s actually more liked than he is.”
Meanwhile, Jordan’s reputation speaks for itself as he appears to be more level-headed and beloved in the industry.
“Michael B. Jordan is the opposite,” one voter told the reporter. “Kind, polite, respectful — and everyone loves working with him.”
Timothée Chalamet Made A Controversial Comment About Opera And Ballet
Chalamet’s miss at the Oscars came on the heels of his recent controversial comment about opera and ballet during a CNN and Variety town hall conversation with Matthew McConaughey.
On the show, he was discussing stereotypes in the movie industry, as well as the expectation that film actors champion the movie theater business when he said “I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore.’”
Several industry stakeholders, including Steven Spielberg, as well as famous ballerinas, spoke out against his comment.
Top ballerina Misty Copeland called out his bluff, saying he invited her to promote “Marty Supreme,” and told her that live arts still have “enduring relevance in culture” even if they aren’t as “popular and a part of pop culture as movies are,” per USA Today.
“I think that it’s often mistaken that when something is popular, that it’s more meaningful or more impactful,” Copeland said. “There’s a reason that the opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years, and I think when you have access and opportunity to be a part of something like that, it can change your life.”
The Actor Was Labeled ‘Narrow-Minded’ By A Top Opera Singer
Opera singer Isabel Leonard slammed the actor in the comment section of an Instagram video showing him make the address.
She stated that she was shocked that Chalamet would express “so ineloquent and narrow-minded in his views about art” while considering himself an artist.
“To take cheap shots at fellow artists says more in this interview than anything else he could say,” Leonard noted. “Shows a lot about his character.”
She added, “You don’t have to like all art, but only a weak person/artist feels the need to diminish, in fact, the VERY arts that would inspire those who are interested in slowing down, to do exactly that,” Leonard added.
Body Language Expert Says Timothée Chalamet Was ‘Quite Submissive’ To Kylie Jenner
During the award show, host Conan O’Brien referenced Chalamet’s comment, saying, “Security is extremely tight tonight. I just gotta mention that. I’m told there are concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.”
However, he seemed to have taken it in stride as he kept a smiling face while holding hands with Jenner.
Body language expert James told the Daily Mail that he appeared “quite submissive” with the gesture, as Jenner “leaned over him protectively, flashing a maternal-looking warning expression from her eyes as well as a tolerant and calm-looking mouth smile.”
James also stated that while Chalamet “opened his mouth wider in an expression of embarrassment and nodded slowly in a gesture of recognition and acceptance” as O’Brien continued with his monologue, Jenner appeared “less comfortable, clenching and unclenching her hands before performing one very odd, loud clap, suggesting a desire to get the joke over and move on.”
