Monica Barbaro defends Timothee Chalamet over his controversial ballet comments

Monica Barbaro has defended her A Complete Unknown co-star Timothee Chalamet following his controversial remarks about ballet earlier this year.

The 30-year-old actor sparked a backlash when he used opera and ballet as examples of art forms that "no one cares about" but Monica feels that the Marty Supreme star was coming from a place of "respect" with his remarks, particularly as his older sister Pauline is a trained ballet dancer.

The One Night Only star told the Happy Sad Confused podcast: "You're the first person to ask me about this.

"I can't possibly know exactly where he was coming from when he said that, but one of the conversations we had on set was about his sister being a dancer, and he was actually saying it from a very hats-off, respect, kind of place."

Monica explained that she interpreted Timothee's comments as being about the declining audiences for ballet and opera rather than as derogatory towards the art forms themselves.

The 36-year-old actress said: "I feel like it was something where he was expressing something in a way that made it sound like it was about the respect for the art form, when really I think it is about audiences for that art form. And I do think audiences are dwindling for those kinds of art forms."

Monica continued: "I don't know that that's what he was saying, but that's my personal takeaway. I'm a Gemini. I try to see all sides.

"I think in a way, there is some truth to that statement in a way I would like to not lead with offence."

Chalamet made his controversial comments when asked if audiences are still interested in slower-paced movies during a Variety and CNN town hall with fellow actor Matthew McConaughey in February.

The four-time Oscar nominee said: "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.'

"All respect to the ballet and opera people out there."

Other Hollywood stars have been critical of Chalamet's remarks, with Charlize Theron branding them as "reckless".

During an interview with The New York Times newspaper in April, The Odyssey star said: "Oh, boy, I hope I run into him one day. I feel like that was a very reckless comment on an art form, two art forms, that we need to lift up constantly because, yes, they do have a hard time.

"But in about 10 years, I think AI is going to be able to do Timothee’s job, but it will not be able to replace a person on a stage dancing live. And we shouldn’t s*** on other art forms. How about we start with that?"