Stranger Things Star Gaten Matarazzo Roasts Timothée Chalamet in Hilarious Promo Video
Timothée Chalamet found himself the target of a playful jab in a new promotional video created by Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo. The 23-year-old star shared the clip on Instagram this Thursday, featuring himself standing in a park on a hillside overlooking a suburban area while enthusiastically shouting about his upcoming comedy film, Pizza Movie.
Parodying Chalamet's Marty Supreme Promotion
Matarazzo's video directly mimics a promotional clip that 30-year-old Chalamet posted to his Instagram account late last year for his film Marty Supreme. In Chalamet's original video, the actor could be seen yelling from rooftops about his Christmas Day 2025 release while the camera panned to show a Ferris wheel and a large sphere bearing the message "Marty Supreme Dream Big."
"Pizza Movie is an American film that comes out on April 3, 2026," Matarazzo declared in his parody version, capturing the same energetic tone as Chalamet's promotion. The film follows two stoned college students who face an epic challenge when they must navigate two flights of stairs to retrieve their pizza delivery.
Co-Star Joins the Fun with Streaming Announcement
Matarazzo was soon joined by his Pizza Movie co-star Sean Giambrone, 26, who added to the comedic moment by shouting, "It's on Hulu, streaming! It's not in the theaters, we wanted it to be in the theaters, but they said 'No!'" This exchange further emphasized the parody nature of the video while highlighting the streaming release strategy for their film.
The camera then panned back to show both actors standing on a park bench overlooking a suburban community, mirroring the expansive shots from Chalamet's original promotional effort.
Direct Reference to Chalamet's Controversial Comments
Matarazzo's ribbing didn't end with the structural parody. Towards the conclusion of his video, as the colorful Pizza Movie logo appeared on screen, the former child star—who has portrayed Dustin Henderson on Netflix's Stranger Things for a decade—added a pointed remark: "By the way, we want to be clear that we love the ballet and we love the opera!"
Giambrone immediately responded with "I don't," prompting Matarazzo to retort in a tongue-in-cheek tone, "Why would you say that?" This final exchange served as a direct dig at Chalamet's controversial comments from earlier this year, where he described opera and ballet as dying art forms that "no one cares about anymore."
Background of Chalamet's Controversial Remarks
Chalamet, who has been dating businesswoman and reality television star Kylie Jenner for three years, made the controversial statements during a town hall event hosted by CNN and Variety on February 21. While discussing the entertainment industry with actor Matthew McConaughey, Chalamet expressed admiration for people who advocate for keeping movie theaters alive but contrasted this with his views on traditional performing arts.
"I don't want to be working in ballet or opera where it's like, 'Hey! Keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore,'" Chalamet stated, though he added that he meant no offense to participants in those art forms. The comments sparked considerable backlash, with even legendary director Steven Spielberg addressing them during a panel at the 2026 SXSW Conference and Festival earlier this month.
Additional Personal Controversy for Chalamet
The promotional parody arrives amid other personal controversies for Chalamet. Former girlfriend Sarah Tena, 32, recently claimed that the actor's relationship with Jenner—which began in 2023 shortly after her alleged romance with Chalamet ended—was "disrespectful." Tena stated she had developed deep feelings for Chalamet during their time together between 2020 and 2023 and expressed disappointment about how their connection concluded.
According to Tena's account, their final meeting occurred in New York where she gave him a bracelet similar to one she owned, with their last communication happening in January 2023 when she wished him a happy birthday. Just three weeks later, Chalamet and Jenner were spotted together at Paris Fashion Week, with their relationship becoming public knowledge in subsequent months.
Cultural Context and Industry Reactions
Chalamet's comments about ballet and opera generated mixed reactions within the entertainment industry. While some supporters argued he was merely observing that these art forms have moved away from mainstream cultural prominence, others found his remarks dismissive of traditional performing arts. Spielberg's response at SXSW emphasized the enduring value of these art forms, stating that the emotional unity experienced after a good movie "happens in movies, and in concerts. And it happens in ballet and opera, by the way."
Matarazzo's parody video cleverly combines multiple elements of Chalamet's recent public persona—from his promotional style to his controversial cultural commentary—creating a humorous moment that resonates with both film enthusiasts and followers of celebrity culture. The video demonstrates how contemporary promotional strategies can incorporate cultural commentary while maintaining entertainment value, all while highlighting the upcoming release of Pizza Movie on Hulu in April 2026.
