On December 17, 2025, the Los Angeles premiere of Marty Supreme became the epicenter of Hollywood buzz, and not just because of its star-studded cast. Timothée Chalamet, the film’s leading man, arrived arm-in-arm with Kylie Jenner, both clad in vivid orange outfits that left little doubt about their intent to grab headlines. The coordinated appearance seemed to silence, at least momentarily, the persistent rumors about a breakup and positioned the couple at the center of a swirling debate: was their red-carpet unity a heartfelt display, or a calculated move in the high-stakes game of awards season PR?
Chalamet’s performance in Marty Supreme has already garnered widespread acclaim, earning him nominations for Best Actor at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards. According to The Independent, he is now locked in a tight Oscar race, with many industry insiders predicting a dramatic showdown between Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio, who is also in contention for his role in One Battle After Another. The film itself, directed by Josh Safdie, is inspired by the life of post-war table tennis champion Marty Reisman and presents a semi-fictionalized, darkly comedic narrative centered on the morally ambiguous exploits of Marty Mauser, played with frenetic energy by Chalamet.
Chalamet’s portrayal of Marty Mauser—a 1950s New York ping-pong prodigy with world-beating ambitions but few resources—has been described as both electrifying and deeply relatable, especially to younger audiences. As ScorpioLikeYou reported, Chalamet himself sees much of his own youthful drive reflected in the character. In a candid rooftop interview at the Maybourne Beverly Hills, the 29-year-old actor described his current career approach as “hitting the f*cking gas pedal, for better or worse.” He reflected on the tunnel vision of his early twenties, saying, “You know, when you’re in your early twenties, you’re an idiot. And if on top of that, you have a passion that you’re singular about, you risk looking foolish in addition to being an idiot.”
For Chalamet, the heart of Marty Supreme lies in its exploration of the follies of youth and the relentless pursuit of passion. He admitted that, in his own early career, he often felt like the only person who truly believed in himself—an experience that resonates with the underdog narrative of the film. “That kind of echo chamber is lonely, and if your brain runs fast, it can make plenty of room for self-doubt,” he shared with ScorpioLikeYou. The raw, hungry energy that defined his early acting years is, as he put it, “baked into Marty.”
But while Chalamet’s artistic achievements are drawing praise, his off-screen persona has become the subject of heated online debate. Following the recent interview, social media erupted with criticism, accusing him of arrogance and “levels of delulu we’ve never seen before,” as one viral tweet put it. Comparisons to Leonardo DiCaprio’s famously humble demeanor abounded, with one user noting, “Leonardo DiCaprio never acted like this and he’s arguably one of the best actors of all time. Timothée please stop.” Another went so far as to say, “I’ve never rooted so hard against anybody.” The backlash highlights a persistent double standard in Hollywood, with some observers pointing out that male actors often get away with boastful talk that would be frowned upon in their female counterparts.
Meanwhile, the spectacle of Chalamet and Jenner’s appearance at the Marty Supreme premiere added fuel to the fire. According to Heat, the couple’s synchronized outfits and affectionate poses were anything but spontaneous. Insiders suggest that the display was a carefully orchestrated PR strategy designed to generate maximum buzz ahead of Oscar voting. Jenner’s mother, Kris Jenner, even took to Instagram to share a photo of her daughter wearing a Marty Supreme hoodie, signaling the full support of the Kardashian-Jenner promotional machine.
Despite the united front, sources close to Jenner have expressed concern that Chalamet may be leveraging her fame to boost his own profile during the crucial awards campaign. “He’s still really attracted to her and is also pretty PR savvy,” an insider told Heat. “Having Kylie on his arm definitely gets him in the headlines, which is super-important right now as he makes another big Oscars push.” The plan, reportedly, is for Jenner to appear at select events to maximize visibility, though friends and family worry that she is more emotionally invested in the relationship than he is. “Friends say that Kylie is still ‘besotted’ by Timothée,” the source added, “but some people feel he doesn’t seem as invested in the relationship as she is.”
Adding another layer to the intrigue, Chalamet has remained tight-lipped about his personal life, refusing to answer questions about his relationship with Jenner in recent interviews. “I just don’t have anything to say,” he stated bluntly, further fueling speculation about the authenticity of their public appearances.
Amid all the drama, Chalamet’s admiration for other stars has also made headlines. In a recent interview, he named his five favorite British celebrities, including Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton, David and Victoria Beckham, hip hop artist Fakemink, and, perhaps most surprisingly, singer Susan Boyle. Chalamet praised Boyle’s viral performance on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, saying, “She dreamt bigger than any of us.” He likened her breakout moment to “the advent of YouTube,” adding, “Who wasn’t moved by that? I remember that like it was yesterday.” Boyle, who finished as a runner-up on the show, went on to achieve two US number one albums, a feat Chalamet clearly respects.
As the awards season heats up, Marty Supreme is set to hit US theaters on December 25, with a UK release following on December 26. The film, directed by Josh Safdie—known for acclaimed projects like Good Time and Uncut Gems—has already been lauded by critics. The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey gave it a five-star review, declaring that the film “cements the Dune actor as one of our greatest talents.”
This year’s Best Actor race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Alongside Chalamet and DiCaprio, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (for The Smashing Machine) and Wagner Moura (for The Secret Agent) are also in the mix. For Chalamet, another Oscar nomination would be his third, following nods for Call Me by Your Name and the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.
With the cameras flashing and the headlines multiplying, the real story behind the glitz and glamour remains as compelling as the film itself. The coming months will reveal whether Chalamet’s high-octane approach and carefully managed public persona will translate into Oscar gold—or if the scrutiny will prove too much even for Hollywood’s brightest young star.
