On Sunday, October 27, Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet unexpectedly appeared at his own look-alike contest in Washington Square Park. The event attracted thousands of people, leaving four contestants in handcuffs and the instigator of the event with a $500 fine.
The competition was started as a joke by YouTuber Anothony Po, who hung flyers around New York in the days leading up to the event advertising a humble $50 prize for the best Chalamet impersonator. After having held a look-alike contest for YouTuber Kai Cenat one day prior, which attracted no more than 50 people, Po did not expect the competition to garner much attention. However, news of the Chalamet contest spread across social media, and an estimated 10,000 people showed up.
The large amount of people in attendance strained the limits of the park, and police eventually arrived at the scene in an attempt to keep order. Four attendees were taken into custody over an “unscheduled demonstration” according to a statement released by the New York Police Department. Spectators chanted “Free Timmy!” and “Let him go!” as one man was arrested, although he was not the real Chalamet. Organizers of the event were also penalized with a $500 fine for an “unpermitted costume contest.”
The involvement of the police in the harmless competition seemed largely avoidable and unnecessary, especially considering other chaotic events that frequently take place in Washington Square Park. Nevertheless, the group complied with the cops’ attempts to break up the crowd, and the remaining contestants moved a few blocks down to the nearby Mercer Playground.
Chalamet appeared in Washington Square Park, alongside multiple bodyguards, shortly after the arrival of cops and the shifting of the contest’s location. There was still a large crowd lingering in the park. However, the event’s organizers had already left. Chalamet did not participate in the contest, but he did pose for pictures with a few lucky fans and sign autographs.
Once the remaining crowd moved to the new location, the competition continued. The Chalamet look-alikes, which had been narrowed down to less than a dozen still competing, engaged in rounds of speed dating with females from the crowd. Eventually, the contest came down to an informal vote by the audience, with the crowd either yelling in support or booing to decide the fate of each contestant.
A winner was ultimately awarded the $50 prize despite the commotion and chaos of the afternoon. Miles Mitchell, a resident of Staten Island, was selected as the champion. Dressed as Chalamet’s rendition of Willy Wonka, Mitchell handed out chocolate to participants and onlookers, capturing the lighthearted spirit and whimsical nature of the occasion.
