Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Timothée Chalamet backlash during ICG Publicists Awards speech

Jimmy Kimmel joked about Timothée Chalamet’s ballet and opera backlash during an awards speech

Jimmy Kimmel took a playful jab at Timothée Chalamet during his acceptance speech at the ICG Publicists Awards, referencing the backlash the actor recently faced over comments about ballet and opera.

Kimmel made the remark while accepting the President Award at the ceremony, held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on March 13. During his speech, the late-night host joked about the challenges publicists face when their clients stir controversy.

“Publicists have a very difficult job, especially when your clients have strong opinions about opera and ballet,” Kimmel quipped, prompting laughter from the audience.

He followed up the joke by referencing the idea that negative press can sometimes still generate attention, adding, “Remember when they used to say there’s no such thing as bad publicity? That was a lot of Kanye’s and Diddy’s ago.”

(WATCH) During Jimmy Kimmel's acceptance speech at the 2026 ICG Publicists Awards, he took a swipe at Timothée Chalamet and the backlash over his comments about ballet and opera.

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The joke comes after Chalamet sparked debate during a recent town hall discussion hosted by CNN and Variety. During the conversation, the actor suggested that fewer people care about traditional art forms like opera and ballet, comments that quickly drew criticism online.

Among those responding was renowned ballerina Misty Copeland, who pointed out that these art forms have endured for centuries and remain foundational to many aspects of performance and storytelling.

“There’s a reason opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years,” Copeland said at a recent event, adding that actors benefit from traditions built by those performance mediums.

Chalamet’s remarks have continued to spark discussion across the entertainment industry, with reactions ranging from criticism to debate about the evolving popularity of traditional performing arts.