Timothée Chalamet’s remarks on Black culture have sparked mixed reactions.
The actor was recently awarded the title ‘White Boy Of the Year’ at the humorous Believe That awards, an event organized by YouTuber Anthony Edwards.
The inaugural ceremony took place in October, during which Chalamet, known for his role in Wonka, received his new accolade.
Receiving the award via video call from Budapest, Hungary, where he is currently involved in shooting the latest Dune installment, Chalamet shared his acceptance speech.
He humorously acknowledged past figures, saying: “I gotta shout out all the white boys that laid the path before me: [Justin] Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Jason Williams, Ed Sheeran.”
Following this, Chalamet posted on his Instagram story, as reported by NME: “You can get lost in the Sauce, but without Sauce, you are lost.”
Continuing, he stated, “That being said, I promise to cherish this award, and do good inspiring generations of white boys to come to be entirely delusional about their identity and place within the world.”
Chalamet further elaborated on his award during the 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony podcast.
“I joke about the ‘White Boy of The Year’ stuff and all that but it’s a fine line to walk you know,” he commented.
“I wanna be respectful and all the sh*t you’re supposed to say blah blah blah, but really I’m just a fan,” Chalamet added. “You know, I’m a fan of Black culture and hip hop and all of it.”
A portion of the podcast was shared on Reddit, prompting discussions about Chalamet’s comment on Black culture.
One user criticized, saying: “He is speedrunning into losing his reputation. He genuinely sounds insufferable. And if this is an act, that makes him even more insufferable.”
Another remarked, “This is why I miss when celebrities didn’t speak and were mysterious. And PR trained.”
Someone else noted, “It’s always hip hop when people talk about Black culture. Y’all know we have more than that right?”
Conversely, some individuals found Chalamet’s comments inoffensive, labeling him as ‘harmless’.
One commenter questioned, “How are people taking this negatively? He seems pretty respectful and aware to me.”
Another wrote: “I’m not a fan of this guy, but I don’t get the hate… What did he say wrong here? He just seems like a normal dude to me.”
Someone else added, “Honestly this is harmless. Before watching this, I thought he’d sound entitled but he’s giving flowers where it’s due.”
Chalamet’s representatives have been approached for comment.