Oscars 2026 Sinners performance includes ballerina who called out Timothée Chalamet, gets a standing ovation

Oscars 2026: A striking musical performance from the Oscar-nominated film Sinners took center stage at the 98th Academy Awards, featuring renowned ballerina Misty Copeland, shortly after she made headlines for criticizing comments made by actor Timothée Chalamet about ballet and opera.

The performance at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles showcased the Oscar-nominated original song I Lied To You, written for the film. The ballad was performed by Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq, accompanied by a diverse group of artists from across music and performance disciplines.

Copeland’s response to Chalamet’s ballet comments

Copeland’s appearance at the Oscars comes shortly after she publicly responded to remarks made by Chalamet suggesting that “no one cares anymore” about ballet and opera. The comment triggered widespread discussion online and across cultural circles, drawing criticism from artists and fans of classical performance.

In response, Copeland argued that such art forms remain culturally significant despite being less dominant in mainstream entertainment. “It’s important that we acknowledge that, yes, this is an art form that is not popular and a part of pop culture as movies are,” she said, while emphasizing that this does not diminish their cultural value or longevity.

She also pointed out that actors themselves benefit from the traditions of stage performance. According to Copeland, performers such as Chalamet “wouldn’t be an actor” without the legacy of theatrical and classical performance traditions that helped shape modern acting.

The discussion around ballet and opera arrives at a significant moment for Chalamet, who is nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his performance in Marty Supreme. His nomination places him among the night’s top contenders, making his reaction to the ongoing debate a subject of interest throughout the ceremony.

Star-studded stage performance for ‘Sinners’

Copeland, widely known as the first Black female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, appeared on stage alongside several prominent musicians and performers. The group included blues guitarist Eric Gales, legendary blues icon Buddy Guy, singer-songwriter Brittany Howard, guitarist Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, actors Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li, blues musician Bobby Rush, singer Shaboozey, and vocalist Alice Smith.