Hollywood’s awards season is often a masterclass of balancing grandeur with subtlety – but according to one Academy voter, Timothée Chalamet appears to have missed that memo.
The actor entered the 2026 Oscars race as the top contender of the season, but an Academy member and voter tells The U.S. Sun that his chances of taking home the top prize have steadily slipped away.
That’s not just down to the competition, but because of the image he’s projected during the campaign.
“I’ve been a member of the Academy for 12 years and I’ve never seen someone throw away their chances of winning as brazenly as Timothee,” the insider, who wished to remain anonymous, confessed when speaking with The U.S. Sun.
“It’s not just a few people talking about it, most of the voters are hyper-aware of his antics which is never a good thing.
“You don’t want people talking about you during awards season for anything other than your performance.
“Nominees who are favoured more tend to be more understated and Timothee is the opposite of that.”
Timothee’s performance in Marty Supreme initially made him the frontrunner in the Best Actor race, with many critics praising his commitment to the role.
But according to the insider, the conversation surrounding the star began to shift as awards season progressed – particularly as some of his public comments and artistic choices sparked debate online and within Hollywood circles.
“He blew his chances for a few reasons,” the Academy voter said.
“What at first seemed to be a genuine passion for the arts has rubbed people the wrong way and almost makes it as though he’s making a mockery of the arts.
“I’m sure that’s not his intention but that’s how it comes across.”
During the promotional circuit, Timothee, 30, came under worldwide scrutiny for harsh comments he said about various art forms, such as opera and ballet, during a pre-Oscars sit-down with Matthew McConaughey.
“I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no-one cares about this anymore’,” Timothee quipped when discussing the decline of audiences going to movie theatres.
The comments, which were said just two weeks before the Oscars, garnered so much backlash that he even faces losing a lucrative brand deal with Cartier, who is a sponsor of many opera houses and ballet companies, The U.S. Sun exclusively reported.
The actor also raised eyebrows during the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards when he delivered an acceptance speech referencing “greatness” – a moment that quickly circulated online and was interpreted by some as overly self-serious.
It comes as one Academy member revealed that Timothee once had their support — but that vote ultimately shifted as the season unfolded.
“Timothee originally had my vote,” the insider admitted.
“It changed to Michael B. Jordan as the awards season progressed. Not for any one reason, but Michael’s performance in Sinners stood out to me more than Marty Supreme as the weeks passed.
“And Michael standing on that stage holding the Oscar would be something I’d be proud to vote for,” the source said.
“I can’t say the same thing about if Timothee were to win.”
The 98th annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 15th in Los Angeles, California and will be hosted this year by beloved comic Conan O’Brien.
This story originally appeared on The U.S. Sun and is republished here with permission.