Conan O’Brien pokes enjoyable at Timothée Chalamet ballet, opera controversy in Oscars monologue

(KTLA) – We knew it was coming. Conan O’Brien made a jab on the recent controversy involving “Marty Supreme” star and Best Actor nominee Timothée Chalamet throughout his opening monologue on the 2026 Oscars.

“Security is extremely tight tonight,” O’Brien started throughout his monologue. “I’m told there’s concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.”

Chalamet not too long ago ruffled feathers for some within the arts industries, notably opera and ballet.

Right after the remark, the digital camera panned to Chalamet, who was laughing alongside girlfriend Kyle Jenner on the joke and appeared to take it in stride.

Chalamet mentioned throughout a Variety and CNN Town Hall dialogue final month, considerably jokingly, “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.” The actor confronted speedy backlash for the remark from the opera and ballet communities.

The 98th Academy Awards are formally underway Sunday night in Hollywood on the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.