The 30-year-old, once considered a strong contender for his role in Marty Supreme, was ultimately beaten by Michael B. Jordan, who took home the award for Sinners.
Chalamet appeared visibly disappointed when last year’s winner, Adrien Brody, announced Jordan’s name. Still, he remained composed—offering polite applause and seemingly mouthing “yay” as Jordan, clearly emotional, embraced his mother before heading to the stage.
The loss capped off an uncomfortable evening for Chalamet, who also found himself the subject of several jokes by host Conan O’Brien, following backlash over his recent comments dismissing opera and ballet.
The Best Actor category was highly competitive this year, with nominees including Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
Jordan, celebrating his first Oscar win, delivered an emotional speech thanking supporters and promising to continue pushing himself to grow. His film Sinners also earned Best Screenplay for director Ryan Coogler.
Earlier in the awards season, Chalamet had built strong momentum with wins at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards. However, the tide shifted after Jordan’s victory at the Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards).
Tension surrounding Chalamet had already been building after controversial remarks he made about opera and ballet during a conversation with Matthew McConaughey, which drew criticism from the arts world—including filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
O’Brien leaned into the controversy during his opening monologue, joking about heightened security due to possible “attacks” from opera and ballet fans. The camera cut to Chalamet, who smiled awkwardly while seated beside girlfriend Kylie Jenner, as the host added another quip about leaving jazz out of the conversation.
Despite attempting to lighten the mood later by saying they were “vibing,” O’Brien’s comment didn’t quite land, with Chalamet’s response going unheard.
The scrutiny began even before the ceremony, as Chalamet walked the red carpet solo in an all-white suit paired with oversized black sunglasses—a look that quickly drew criticism online. Social media users mocked the outfit, calling it a “mess” and jokingly comparing him to a “milkman,” with some even suggesting he take style cues from the Kardashian-Jenner circle.
Overall, the night proved to be a challenging one for Chalamet, marked by both professional disappointment and public scrutiny.
