Backlash Explodes at Oscars: Kevin O’Leary Says Timothée Chalamet Was “Unfairly Targeted

Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme costar Kevin O’Leary is sticking with the young actor to the end at the 2026 Oscars.

“He’s a really great guy. His mother’s really nice. That whole thing about the opera — by the way, I just put $1,000 on Kalshi walking in here,” O’Leary, 71, told Variety on the red carpet at the 98th Academy Awards, when asked what Chalamet, 30, is like in real life.

“He’s going to win, because I know the voting stopped long before that controversy happened,” O’Leary added, in reference to backlash Chalamet has received in recent days regarding his suggestion that “no one cares about” ballet and opera during a Feb. 24 media appearance. “That kid is great kid. He took a bum rap on that. By the way, he gave a lot of promo to opera houses and ballet.”

Chalamet is nominated for two Oscars this year, both as a producer with Marty Supreme’s Best Picture nomination and and for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The nominations brings Chalamet’s total career Oscar nods to four.

Kevin O’Leary (left) and Timothée Chalamet filming Marty Supreme on Oct. 2, 2024.Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Chalamet made his comment on ballet and opera as he discussed Hollywood’s efforts to “keep movie theaters alive” and keep American audiences interested in going out to see new films with his Interstellar costar Matthew McConaughey, 56, on Feb. 24.

“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.’ All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there,” he said during the talk. The actor appeared to recognize that his comments could be seen as disparaging and immediately added, “I just lost 14 cents in viewership, I just took shots for no reason.”

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Kevin O’Leary and Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme.Courtesy of A24

Several performing artists — among them, Andrea Bocelli and ballerina Misty Copeland — have criticized Chalamet’s comments, as have actors like Jamie Lee Curtis and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Even Steven Spielberg made reference to Chalamet’s remarks during a Friday, March 13 panel at the 2026 SXSW Conference and Festival when he reminded an audience that magical moments “happen in ballet and opera, by the way,” just as they do in a movie theater.

Marty Supreme is nominated for nine Oscars on Sunday, March 15. Chalamet is nominated for Best Actor alongside Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) and Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon).

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See PEOPLE’s coverage of the 98th Academy Awards, airing live on ABC and Hulu on March 15.