Timothée Chalamet Gives Misty Copeland a Standing Ovation After Her Oscars Performance Following Ballet Comments Backlash

By Alexus Mosley

Photo Credit/Getty Images

The 2026 Oscars delivered a full-circle moment that had the arts world watching closely.

During the 98th Academy Awards, Misty Copeland took the stage alongside Shaboozey, Miles Caton, and Raphael Saadiq to perform “I Lied To You” from the film Sinners, delivering a powerful and emotional performance that blended music, dance, and cinematic storytelling.

Among those in the audience watching the moment unfold was Timothée Chalamet, who was nominated for Best Actor for Marty Supreme.

When Copeland finished her performance, Chalamet stood up and applauded, giving the American Ballet Theatre principal dancer a standing ovation from his seat in the audience. The moment comes just weeks after Chalamet faced criticism within the arts community for comments he made about ballet and opera during a CNN and Variety Town Hall discussion with Matthew McConaughey in late February.

During the conversation, Chalamet said: “I don’t want to be working in ballet or operas or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore.’” The remarks sparked backlash from artists and supporters of classical performing arts.

Misty Copeland during her Oscars Performance as a part of a tribute to the film Sinners.

Copeland later responded thoughtfully to the controversy, pointing out the importance of recognizing ballet’s cultural significance. “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. She continued: “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. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have enduring relevance in culture.”

Her Oscars performance ( and the reaction from the audience) seemed to underscore that very point.

With a standing ovation from one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Copeland’s moment on the Oscars stage became more than just a performance, but also a reminder of ballet’s lasting place in the cultural conversation.

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