Fran Drescher Defends Timothée Chalamet Amid Controversial Comments

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Timothée Chalamet Reacts to Conan O'Brien's Dig at His Ballet, Opera Comments at Oscars 2026

Fran Drescher isn’t dancing around Timothée Chalamet’s controversial comments.

The Nanny alum addressed her Marty Supreme costar’s recent remarks about ballet and opera as she walked the red carpet at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 2026 Oscars viewing party, theorizing that he may not have meant his words the way they were received.

“I actually find him to be a very sweet and kind person, so I think that maybe he got a little too relaxed and maybe spoke out of turn,” she exclusively told E! News at the March 15 event. “He comes from a family of artists and he's been exposed to fine arts his whole life, so I really don't think, knowing him, that he meant for it to be received the way it did.”

By the same token, Fran, 68, hoped the controversy would be a teachable moment for the 30-year-old on navigating life in the public eye.

“You live, you learn, he's young and he's very much in the spotlight,” she continued. “I think you have to realize that the adoration that you get can easily turn on a dime. People can go for your jugular as easy as they will hail you, so that’s a life lesson learned.”

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“If we can turn it into an opportunity to grow and learn,” she added, “then it was an experience worth having.”

Of course, Oscars host Conan O’Brien had a bit of fun at Timothée’s expense during the ceremony, referencing the viral bit during his opening monologue as the actor—seated next to his girlfriend Kylie Jenner—giggled from his seat.

“Security is extremely tight tonight,” Conan told the crowd inside the Dolby Theatre. “I'm told there's concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.”

To see all the stars who dazzled at the 2026 Oscars, keep reading…

--Reporting by Sharon Carpenter

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Chase Infiniti

in custom Louis Vuitton and De Beers jewelry. 

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Elle Fanning

in custom Givenchy by Sarah Burton and Cartier jewelry. 

Photo by JC Olivera/WWD via Getty Images

Regina Hall

in Yara Shoemaker and Pomellato jewelry. 

George Pimentel/Shutterstock

Benicio del Toro

in Giorgio Armani, Christian Louboutin shoes and Oliver Peoples glasses. 

Photo by Maya Dehlin/Disney via Getty Images

Channing Tatum

in Versace, Christian Louboutin shoes and Tiffany & Co. jewelry. 

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Michael B. Jordan

in custom Louis Vuitton. 

Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas

in Loewe and Swarovski jewelry. 

George Pimentel/Shutterstock

Ethan Hawke

in Andy Wolf glasses.

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Pedro Pascal

in Chanel. 

Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Amanda Anka & Jason Bateman

in Dunhill (Bateman). 

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Gwyneth Paltrow

in Giorgio Armani, Christian Louboutin shoes and Tiffany & Co. jewelry. 

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Demi Moore

in custom Gucci. 

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Zoe Saldana

in Saint Laurent and Cartier jewelry. 

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Odessa A'zion

in Valentino and Pandora jewelry. 

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Zinzi Coogler & Ryan Coogler

in Catier jewelry (Zinzi) and custom Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin shoes and Cartier jewelry (Ryan). 

Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images

Sigourney Weaver

in Valentino and Buccellati jewelry. 

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Rei Ami

in custom Rahul Mishra, Flor de Maria shoes and David Webb jewelry. 

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

EJAE

in custom Dior and Swarovski jewelry. 

John Shearer/WireImage

Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Audrey Nuna

in custom Thom Browne and Chopard jewelry. 

John Shearer/WireImage

Jessie Buckley

in custom Chanel. 

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Ellie Kemper

George Pimentel/Shutterstock

Kieran Culkin

in Paul Smith, Hublot watch and Sauvereign brooch.  

Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Image

May Hong

in archive Roberto Cavalli and Spinelli Kilcollin jewelry. 

Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images

Miles Caton

in Amiri and Hublot watch.

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Heidi Klum

in Chrome Hearts . 

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Renate Reinsve

in custom Louis Vuitton and Giuseppe Zanotti shoes.  

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Felicity Jones

in Prada. 

Frazer Harrison/WireImage

Hudson Williams

in custom Balenciaga and Bvlgari jewelry. 

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

McKenna Grace

in Vera Wang and Smiling Rocks jewelry. 

Watch the Oscars 2026 Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC and streaming on Hulu.

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