Hollywood’s Young Guns: A Comedy Skit Sparks Debate on Art Forms and Star Power
A recent promotional video for the upcoming film Pizza Movie has inadvertently ignited a light-hearted, yet pointed, discussion within Hollywood circles, with Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo taking aim at a rather controversial statement made by none other than Timothée Chalamet. The skit, shared by Matarazzo on Instagram, sees the actor and his co-star Sean Giambrone playfully recreating a now-viral promotional style, all while subtly referencing Chalamet’s earlier remarks about the perceived relevance of ballet and opera.
The video opens with Matarazzo, 23, standing on a scenic hillside overlooking a suburban landscape. With infectious energy, he shouts out details about Pizza Movie, an American comedy set to hit screens on April 3, 2026. The film’s premise, as he describes it, follows two college students navigating the epic challenge of retrieving a pizza delivery, a task complicated by the formidable obstacle of two flights of stairs.
Matarazzo is soon joined by Giambrone, 26, who enthusiastically adds that the film will be available for streaming on Hulu. He humorously laments that the filmmakers’ initial desire to release it in cinemas was met with a firm “No!” from distributors.
A Nod to “Marty Supreme” and a Subtle Jab
The style of the promotional clip is a clear homage to a video posted by 30-year-old Chalamet late last year to promote his film Marty Supreme. In that instance, Chalamet was seen energetically bellowing from a rooftop, “Marty Supreme is an American film that comes out on Christmas Day 2025!” The camera in his original video then panned out to reveal a sprawling vista, complete with a Ferris wheel and a colossal sphere emblazoned with the words “Marty Supreme Dream Big.” Chalamet, a recent Oscar nominee, punctuated his announcement with enthusiastic whoops and waves.
The Opera vs. Ballet Brouhaha
Matarazzo’s ribbing, however, doesn’t stop at merely mimicking the promotional style. As the Pizza Movie logo appears at the end of his clip, the Stranger Things veteran, who has portrayed Dustin Henderson for a decade, adds a pointed remark: “By the way, we want to be clear that we love the ballet and we love the opera!” Giambrone’s immediate, deadpan reply, “I don’t,” prompts Matarazzo to ask, with a clear twinkle in his eye, “Why would you say that?”
This exchange is, of course, a direct and tongue-in-cheek jab at Chalamet’s now infamous comments that described ballet and opera as “dying art forms that ‘no one cares about anymore.'” Chalamet, who has been romantically linked with Kylie Jenner, 28, for some time, made these remarks during a CNN and Variety-hosted town hall event on February 21.
While discussing the state of the entertainment industry, Chalamet stated, “I admire people who go on a talk show and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to keep movie theaters alive.’ If people want to see it, like Barbie, like Oppenheimer, they’re going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it.”
He then drew a sharp contrast: “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera where it’s like, ‘Hey! Keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore.'” He did, however, qualify his statement by saying he meant no offense to those involved in these artistic pursuits.
The Fallout and the Repercussions
While Chalamet’s comments garnered some support from those who felt he was merely pointing out a lack of mainstream appeal for opera and ballet, the remarks certainly sparked debate and, for some, offense. The impact of his statement was even felt by esteemed director Steven Spielberg. At a panel during the 2026 SXSW Conference and Festival, as reported by Variety, Spielberg appeared to subtly shade the young actor.
“At the end of a really good movie experience, we are all united with a whole bunch of feelings that we walk into the daylight with, or into the nighttime with,” the Jaws director explained. “And there’s nothing like that. It happens in movies, and in concerts. And it happens in ballet and opera, by the way,” he added, eliciting applause from the audience. “We want that to be sustained. We want that to go forever.”
Beyond the Art World: Relationship Rumours Surface
Adding another layer to the recent buzz surrounding Timothée Chalamet, a model named Sarah Tena, 32, has recently spoken out about her past relationship with the actor, alleging that his subsequent romance with Kylie Jenner was “disrespectful.” Tena claims to have been in a relationship with Chalamet between 2020 and 2023. She believes their connection was serious and that they had maintained contact until shortly before Chalamet was first seen with Jenner.
According to Tena’s account, their last meeting was in New York, where she gifted him a bracelet. Their final interaction, she states, occurred in January 2023, when she wished Chalamet a happy birthday, and he “liked” the message. Just three weeks later, Chalamet and Jenner were photographed together at Jean Paul Gaultier’s Paris Fashion Week show. By April, reports emerged that the pair were “hanging out,” and TMZ subsequently published photos of Jenner’s car parked outside Chalamet’s Beverly Hills home.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Tena expressed her deep feelings for Chalamet during their time together. “I did get down and a little sad about the whole thing because I was like, ‘Wow I might not ever see him again,’ and when I had always felt so sure about him and I and it turned the complete opposite of that,” she revealed. She also added, “I never thought him and I would stop talking because we had that friendship also. He’s changed.”
