Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner made a surprising exit from the 98th Academy Awards on March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The couple left during the Best Animated Short category after Chalamet lost the Best Actor nomination for his role in Marty Supreme to Michael B. Jordan for his performance in Sinners. Eyewitnesses reported that the pair vanished mid-ceremony, prompting seat fillers to quickly occupy their prime seats.
Chalamet arrived at the Oscars with considerable buzz surrounding his performance in Marty Supreme, a drama directed by Josh Safdie in which he portrays a ping-pong hustler. The film had garnered multiple nominations, including a Best Picture nod. However, the night took a disappointing turn for Chalamet, who faced backlash for previous comments regarding the arts. Just weeks prior, he remarked that “no one cares” about opera or ballet anymore, which sparked criticism among arts enthusiasts and even threatened his endorsement deal with Cartier.
During his opening monologue, host Conan O’Brien seized the opportunity to reference Chalamet’s controversial remarks. He quipped, “Security is extremely tight tonight… I’m told there’s concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities,” directing a playful jab towards Chalamet, who remained visibly tense throughout the evening.
The couple’s absence from their seats did not go unnoticed. An insider noted, “Timothée and Kylie disappeared during the Best Animated Short category and didn’t come back for ages. It was a huge gap, basically most of the show.” The quick replacement of seat fillers highlighted the couple’s unexpected departure, which raised eyebrows among attendees, as nominees typically remain present during the ceremony.
Chalamet’s loss was particularly poignant, given the film’s total of nine nominations, including a directing nod for Safdie. The actor, who made history as the youngest nominee for both acting and producing, left the ceremony empty-handed. The sting of not securing a win, coupled with the fallout from his earlier comments, left the impression of a career setback for the 30-year-old star.
The evening ultimately belonged to Paul Thomas Anderson, whose film One Battle After Another took home six awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Anderson. Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor, while Jessie Buckley received the Best Actress award for her role in Hamnet. The Best Supporting Actress award went to Amy Madigan for Weapons, with the animation category recognizing KPop Demon Hunters and the international award going to Norway’s Sentimental Value.
As the dust settles on the Academy Awards, the focus shifts to the implications for Chalamet’s career and whether the backlash from his comments will linger. The couple’s hasty departure reflects the pressures of the spotlight, particularly when expectations collide with reality at one of the industry’s most prestigious events.
