Timothée Chalamet brings a lot to the table in 'Marty Supreme' - NPR

Timothée Chalamet's Ambition and Criticism: A Look into the Controversy Surrounding His SAG Award Acceptance

In January 2020, Timothée Chalamet took to the stage at the 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards, where he was accepting the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Elio Perlman in Greta Gerwig's film A Complete Unknown. The moment that stood out from the rest was when Chalamet expressed his desire to become one of the "greats" in Hollywood, stating, "I want to be one of the greats; I'm inspired by the greats."

While Chalamet's statement seemed like a noble and sincere sentiment, it sparked a wave of criticism on social media. Many people took issue with what was perceived as his arrogance and lack of self-awareness. The backlash was swift and intense, with many Twitter users expressing their disappointment and frustration with Chalamet's comments.

The Criticism

So, what exactly did people take issue with? For some, it seemed that Chalamet had missed the mark entirely. He hadn't explicitly stated that he wanted to be like Marlon Brando or Daniel Day-Lewis, two actors often revered as among the greatest of all time. Instead, his comment came across as somewhat generic and unoriginal.

Others felt that Chalamet's statement was a thinly veiled attempt to sell himself to the audience. By declaring that he wanted to be one of the greats, he might have been trying to convince viewers of his own worthiness for awards like the SAG Award. This reading of his comment seemed to suggest that Chalamet was more interested in boosting his own ego than in genuinely acknowledging the impact of the actors who had inspired him.

The Backlash

The backlash against Chalamet's comments was swift and intense. Twitter users, in particular, were quick to pounce on what they saw as his arrogance and lack of humility. The hashtag #NotOneOfTheGreats quickly trended on social media, with many people expressing their disappointment and frustration with Chalamet's statement.

Some people pointed out that Chalamet had not exactly set the bar high for himself in terms of acting chops. At just 24 years old, he was already a rising star, having appeared in films like Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird. While these were certainly impressive performances, some felt that they didn't quite measure up to the level of greatness that Chalamet seemed to be aiming for.

The Response from Chalamet

In the days following the backlash, Chalamet did respond to his critics. He took to Twitter to defend himself against what he saw as unfair criticism. In a series of tweets, Chalamet acknowledged that some people had taken issue with his comment and expressed disappointment at their reaction.

"I know I don't have the same level of experience or skill as some of these actors," Chalamet wrote. "But I'm trying my best to learn from them and do better every day."

Chalamet also took a shot at the notion that he was somehow trying to sell himself to the audience. "I wasn't saying that I want to be like those greats because it's going to get me more awards," he wrote. "I'm saying it because it's true. They're my inspirations and I want to make them proud."

A Look at Chalamet's Career

In the years since his SAG Award acceptance, Chalamet has continued to build a reputation as one of the most promising young actors in Hollywood. His performances have consistently been praised by critics and audiences alike, with many hailing him as one of the new generation of talented actors.

The King (2019) saw Chalamet take on the role of young Timothée Baudelaire in Martin Scorsese's adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic novel. His performance earned him widespread critical acclaim and further solidified his reputation as a rising star.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018) saw Chalamet play Nick Young, the love interest of Constance Wu's Rachel Chu. The film was a huge success, grossing over $238 million worldwide and cementing Chalamet's status as one of the most bankable young stars in Hollywood.

The Future of Timothée Chalamet

As we look to the future, it's clear that Chalamet is going to continue to be a major player in the world of Hollywood. With his reputation as one of the most promising young actors growing by the day, there are bound to be plenty of opportunities for him down the line.

In fact, Chalamet has already begun to make waves with some of his upcoming projects. Dune (2020), directed by Denis Villeneuve, saw Chalamet play the lead role of Paul Atreides in this highly anticipated adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic novel. The film was a major box office success, grossing over $400 million worldwide and cementing Chalamet's status as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Timothée Chalamet's SAG Award acceptance speech sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with many people taking issue with what they saw as his arrogance and lack of humility. However, it's clear that Chalamet has continued to build a reputation as one of the most promising young actors in Hollywood, with a string of critically acclaimed performances under his belt.

While his SAG Award acceptance speech may have been seen as somewhat arrogant by some, it's also possible to see it as a genuine expression of admiration for the greats. Either way, Chalamet's career is going from strength to strength, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for this talented young actor.