Nathan Lane Shares His Candid Thoughts on Timothée Chalamet and Ping-Pong on ‘The View’
Nathan Lane Critiques Timothée Chalamet’s Remarks on Opera and Ballet
Actor Nathan Lane, known for his role as an ardent Maria Callas fan in Terrence McNally’s play The Lisbon Traviata, did not mince words regarding Timothée Chalamet’s recent comments dismissing ballet and opera. During an appearance on The View, Lane responded critically to Chalamet’s assertion from a CNN town hall that “no one cares about” these art forms any longer.
“Oh, what a schmuck,” Lane remarked when moderator Whoopi Goldberg inquired about Chalamet’s provocative statement. He elaborated, noting, “one doesn’t want to give this more attention than it deserves. And yet, it was kind of kaleidoscopic in its stupidity and insensitivity yet strangely telling about where we are in this country.”
Lane emphasized the enduring appeal of classic works, saying, “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 was Timothée Chalamet?’ It’s the show business circle of life.”
He further questioned the rationale behind the town hall meeting featuring both Chalamet and actor Matthew McConaughey. “Why was there a town hall meeting with Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet? I mean, who deemed this meeting of the minds necessary? Why isn’t there a town hall meeting with Democrats discussing how to get this lunatic out of the White House?” Lane remarked.
Lane humorously speculated on the context of the CNN and Variety Town Hall Event, suggesting, “I’m thinking some weed was smoked before, or this may just be a tragic case of terribly unfunny people trying to be funny, which always ends in disaster.” He added, “If you think nobody cares about opera and ballet, I can’t tell you how much we don’t care about ping-pong,” alluding to Chalamet’s promotion of his upcoming film.
While discussing his upcoming Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman, Lane described director Joe Mantello’s take as “non-traditional” and “more abstract and psychological.” He is the latest celebrity to voice criticism of Chalamet’s prior comments, which have drawn backlash from various quarters.
Lane also recounted an anecdote about his interaction with a young boy, the son of his friend Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who was enraptured by Lane’s performance in The Lion King. After singing “Hakuna Matata,” the boy excitedly approached Lane with something to share. To which Lane joked, “And I said, ‘Hepatitis?’” This remark later drew media attention, with some outlets describing it as “unhinged,” prompting Lane’s further reflection on the absurdity of the coverage.
