Timothée Chalamet makes an unforgettable appearance at his own lookalike contest, only to have it shut down by NYPD
An event designed to celebrate the pop status of Timothée Chalamet became an unexpected lookalike contest in New York City's Washington Square Park on October 27. The event quickly gained a crowd in Lower Manhattan but was shut down by police for not having the required permit.
Chalamet, accompanied by an entourage of security guards, took selfies and pictures with his fans and doppelgangers dressed in costumes reflecting his famous characters, from Wonka to Dune. Videos shared on X showed Chalamet waving, waving to fans, and talking to attendees while working his way through the crowd.
However, the party was short-lived. Police arrived on the scene saying the event did not have a permit and began to break up the gathering. NBC reported at least one person was taken into custody and several others received summonses. In video footage by the Associated Press, police are heard using a megaphone urging people to disperse. Officers can be heard saying, “You're all gonna get summonses.”
Despite an intervention by the police, the lookalike participants tried to continue the contest. Chalamet's doppelgangers came out on stage to answer pageant-style questions, including: “What would you do to make the world a better place?” This also came with a prize of $50 to the winner. Pageant-style questions also included funny jests such as: “How much French do you speak?” and how Chalamet is dating Kylie Jenner.
The conclusion to the event was a lively affair as it culminated with Staten Island College senior Miles Mitchel taking the title home. Dressed as Willy Wonka of Chalamet, Mitchell was spotted waving to the audience and even tossing candies from a purple briefcase. Still, the funny costumes and comedy indeed made the event memorable, but for all the wrong reasons.
Chalamet is reported to have started shooting Marty Supreme, an American sports drama directed by Josh Safdie. The film includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler, the Creator, Odessa A'zion, Abel Ferrara, Fran Drescher, Kevin O'Leary, and Penn Jillette.
Although the event was short-lived, Chalamet's appearance emphasized how close he is to fans and how popular he still is. Police involvement and the arrest highlighted how hard it is to organize public events in New York City, even for informal gatherings.