The JTrain Podcast — Pop Culture Thursday

Episode Title: Timothée Chalamet Hates Ballet, Joint Bachelor / Bachelorette Parties, and Tomi Lahren
Host: Jared Freid
Date: March 12, 2026

Episode Overview

In this “Pop Culture Thursday,” Jared Freid (aka J Train) tackles the wildest headlines from Page Six and spins them into comedic insights and observations. In his signature "brain on the shelf" style, he covers a viral debate about Timothée Chalamet’s remarks on ballet, Kathie Lee Gifford’s comments about "The View" on Tomi Lahren's podcast, a scandal at a ritzy NYC private school, and the dramatic breakup of NFL QB Dak Prescott at a joint bachelor-bachelorette party.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Timothée Chalamet vs. Ballet: Who Really Cares?

[00:34 – 18:55]

• The “Scandal”: Page Six reports that Misty Copeland slammed Timothée Chalamet for saying “no one cares about ballet or opera,” a comment originating from 2019 and resurfacing recently.
  • Jared questions the real impact:

    “Who’s getting angry? … I need three representatives who are mad to come to the front, come to the podium, and give a one-paragraph statement on why they are so angered.” (01:55)

  • He pokes fun at the social dynamic around pop culture outrage, observing how we generalize “they are mad” without knowing who “they” is.
• Misty Copeland’s Response:
  • Her rebuttal (as reported) is “the most ‘I am a ballet person’ answer ever read” (09:58). Copeland says all art forms have relevance, but ballet isn’t as big as movies.
  • Jared’s take:

    “No one gives a fuck about your boring answer you just gave. If I’m Misty Copeland, I’d be like, ‘Hey Timothée, I want to invite you to a ballet class…’ This is opportunity missed. This is Misty Copeland being up her own ass.” (11:33)

• Bigger Point:
  • Jared frames the issue as emblematic of clickbait outrage cycles.

    “If you’re out here thinking Chalamet’s over here — you’re the idiot… The ballet… They go to a ballet prodigy, ‘What do you think of Timothée Chalamet…’ This is the game.” (08:15)

Memorable quote:

"The only ballet news we've had in the past decade is this story and Black Swan the movie." (06:51)

2. Kathie Lee Gifford, Tomi Lahren, and Manufactured Outrage

[19:00 – 33:41]

• Kathie Lee on “The View”:
  • Gifford appears on Tomi Lahren’s podcast, claims "The View" has become meaner and more divisive.
  • Jared’s personal anecdote: He recalls being snubbed by Kathie Lee on the Today Show after a joke about age.

    “I may have referred to Kathie Lee as older… She like looked at me for a minute, and then… she cut me out of the whole thing. Never had me back. So consider me team not Kathie Lee.” (21:56)

• Tomi Lahren’s Role:
  • Jared calls out Tomi Lahren for capitalizing on culture war division.

    “She’s an extremely popular and successful orator… that’s been built on division… Hey, do you think the world’s more divided now? Says the person who creates the division…” (25:38)

  • He mocks the performative “rage bait.”
  • Defines “proselytize,” then notes that’s exactly what Tomi Lahren does:

    “She’s literally talking to the pot…” (28:08)

• Kathie Lee’s Comments:
  • Gifford says there’s viciousness now, claiming she just wants more heaven than hell.
  • Jared’s reaction:

    “Is Kathie Lee okay? What the fuck is she talking about? This is crazy. I had no idea she went this way.” (29:44)

Memorable quote:

“Would you go on Tomi Lahren’s podcast? Of course I would! …I would say, ‘Tomi, all you do is create rage bait.’ …I’m annoyed at all of this.” (30:30)

3. Upper East Side Private School Scandal

[33:42 – 43:18]

• Scandal at Spence School:
  • Page Six story about anonymous posters revealing an alleged staff affair at the prestigious all-girls Spence School.
  • Jared provides context on the culture at such NYC elite schools, comparing it to his own suburban Boston upbringing.
  • He riffs on the absurdity of the story becoming tabloid fodder.
  • Tuition at Spence is revealed to be $70,000/year, which astounds Jared.
  • The parents’ leading theory is the “scorned wife” posted the flyers; Jared jokes it could be a senior prank.

Memorable quote:

“If you’ve met someone who’s gone to Spence, it’s a big part of who they are. Like, you’d know that more so than maybe even their college.” (36:30)
“Someone went to detention and they’re like, ‘I’m letting the world burn.’” (39:04)

4. Dak Prescott’s Joint Bachelor/Bachelorette Party Meltdown

[43:19 – 52:23]

• Event Breakdown:
  • Sarah Jane Ramos calls off her wedding to NFL QB Dak Prescott after accusations of ongoing infidelity. The split happens after their joint party in the Bahamas.
  • Jared is baffled by joint bachelor/bachelorette parties:

    “A joint bachelor bachelorette party is crazy on its own… If someone wanted a joint party, you’re like, oh, they’re big God people, they’re weird, or our friend group is just something no one could understand…” (46:04)

  • He asserts that joint parties almost always signal something off:

    “Anytime I see joint bachelor bachelorette party… I’m like, what’s going on there?… There’s something off about you and your husband, you and your wife.” (47:10)

  • The blow-up: After friends leave, Ramos discovers Dak using secret social media accounts to message other women.
  • They send a “joint email” to hundreds of guests to announce the wedding is off.
  • Jared sides with Ramos: In this situation, not signing a prenup makes sense if trust is broken. He understands why the breakup happened at the party rather than later.

Memorable quotes:

“I would buy a ticket… If there was a ride called ‘joint bachelor bachelorette party, the ride,’ at Disney World where they’re going to break up midway through, I would buy that ticket. I’d get my popcorn, have my soda, and watch the whole thing.” (48:27)
“When you’re on your bachelor bachelorette party and you’re still messaging other women… Are you going to be DMing women who are responding to you in a tux at our wedding? Yeah, I’m on her side. I get it.” (51:48)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On pop culture outrage:

  “Who is mad? Show me the one person… You would not want to hang out with that person.” (02:14)

• On ballet news:

  “The only ballet news we’ve had in the past decade is this story and Black Swan the movie.” (06:51)

• On NYC private school scandals:

  "This is why New York, it’s in a paper where some chubby Jew is talking about it on his podcast." (36:38)

• On joint bachelor/bachelorette parties:

  “It is insane that anyone would do that… It’s just weird.” (46:18)

Timestamps of Major Segments

• 00:34 – 18:55: Timothée Chalamet, Misty Copeland & the ballet debate
• 19:00 – 33:41: Kathie Lee Gifford, Tomi Lahren, and “The View” controversy
• 33:42 – 43:18: Upper East Side school scandal
• 43:19 – 52:23: Dak Prescott’s joint bachelor/bachelorette party breakup

Tone & Style

Jared Freid brings a relaxed, irreverent, and unapologetically candid tone to the episode. His riffing is self-deprecating, heavy on sarcasm, and skewers the self-importance of both the newsmakers and the headlines themselves. Listeners get a humorous, “outsider looking in” perspective on the absurdities of pop culture and celebrity drama.

For Next Time

• Submit Page Six stories to: JTrainPodcast@gmail.com (Subject: Pop Culture Thursday)
• Find tour dates for Jared Freid in Salt Lake City, West Hampton Beach, Portland, Tempe, and Los Angeles.

End of Summary