Timothée Chalamet surprised fans by appearing at his own lookalike contest in lower Manhattan on Sunday, a lively event that grew so large police issued a dispersal order, and one person was arrested.
Accompanied by bodyguards, Chalamet posed with his lookalikes—some of whom dressed as his characters Willy Wonka and Paul Atreides from Wonka and the Dune series. Some enthusiastic fans even mistook the lookalikes for the real Chalamet, showering them with attention.
The event, promoted on flyers around New York City, was organized by YouTube personality Anthony Po as part of a series of lookalike competitions.
After gaining traction on social media, thousands RSVP’d to the gathering, which promised a $50 prize to the best Chalamet doppelganger.
However, shortly after the contest started in Washington Square Park—and just before Chalamet arrived—police instructed the crowd to disperse, fining the organizers $500 for holding an “unpermitted costume contest.” At least one attendee was detained, though the reason was not immediately provided by police.
“It started off as a silly joke and now it’s turned into pandemonium,” said Paige Nguyen, a producer for Po’s YouTube channel.
Most of the Chalamet hopefuls and their supporters moved to a nearby park, where the contest continued on a makeshift stage.
Contestants were playfully asked about their supposed romantic plans with Kylie Jenner, with whom Chalamet is rumored to be in a relationship, as well as their proficiency in French and ideas for improving the world.
Finally, the crowd selected Staten Island college senior Miles Mitchell as the winner. Dressed in a purple Willy Wonka outfit, he tossed candy from a briefcase to a crowd of young fans.
“I’m excited and I’m also overwhelmed,” Mitchell said. “There were so many good lookalikes. It was really a toss-up.”
