No, he didn’t come in. But it still caused a stir in Washington Square Park, where four people were arrested.
Timothée Chalamet wasn’t the only striking figure strolling through New York City this weekend. The Oscar-nominated star of ‘Call Me by Your Name’ and ‘Dune’ made an unexpected appearance at Washington Square Park on Sunday, where fans and look-alikes gathered for a unique contest to crown the ‘best Tim.
The public event had gone viral due to cryptic fliers and drew a crowd of contestants sporting Chalamet’s signature bold brows, dark curly hair, and costumes from his roles in ‘Wonka’ and ‘Dune.’ Chalamet, escorted by security, posed with fans and doppelgangers before police dispersed the gathering, citing an ‘unpermitted costume contest’ and fining the organizers $500.
“The event was advertised as a simple Sunday afternoon gathering, offering a modest $50 prize. However, the chance to be surrounded by Timothée Chalamet look-alikes—even before the actor’s surprise appearance—drew a massive crowd, quickly overwhelming the park’s capacity.
Organizer Anthony Po, a Jersey City YouTuber with 1.8 million subscribers known for his viral cheeseball-eating stunt, remarked on the event’s unexpected scale. The day before, Po had hosted a look-alike contest for YouTuber Kai Cenat, drawing around 50 attendees. This time, he estimated that nearly 10,000 people attempted to join the gathering.”
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“Video footage of the event captured a straight-haired stuntman being escorted away by police officers. Fortunately, it was not the real Timothée Chalamet, but a stunning stunt double with a striking resemblance.
As the scene unfolded, some fans allegedly yelled ‘Free Timmy’ at the officers, according to GQ. It is still unclear whether they thought the arrested individual was Chalamet himself or simply appreciated the striking resemblance of the double.
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“Reflecting on the winner of the contest, Mr. Po commented, ‘I guess it was his charisma’ that secured the victory. Perhaps it was better that Timothée Chalamet did not participate in the contest; perhaps he would not have won.
This wouldn’t be the first time that a celebrity lost a contest for their image. Dolly Parton once shared how she anonymously entered a Parton impersonator contest at a Hollywood bar, only to receive the slightest applause. Similarly, Charlie Chaplin finished third in a Chaplin impersonator contest, an anecdote his son told in My Father, Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin himself considered it one of the funniest moments, whether on his own or the judges’.
