A few weeks ago, flyers advertising a Timothée Chalamet lookalike competition appeared around New York City. Chalamet, a young American actor, has gained popularity in the last few years, partially for his starring roles in popular movies such as “Wonka,” “Dune” and “Call Me by Your Name,” but also for his curly black hair and gaunt figure. My friends have described him as a “sick Victorian child, but in a good way.”
On the Sunday before Halloween, thousands of people flocked to the Washington Square Arch in hopes of winning organizer and YouTuber Anthony Po’s prize: a six-foot-tall trophy, a 50-dollar check and Halloween candy.
The location was perfectly chosen for Chalamet fans, as he attended Columbia and New York University before dropping out to pursue a career in acting. For some NYU students, becoming Chalamet is a dream of theirs, and Halloween may be the closest they get.
Just when the contest was about to begin, New York Police Department vehicles pulled up to Washington Square Park and ordered the Chalamet lookalikes to disperse. They began grabbing people out of the crowd while onlookers watched in horror, chanting “Free Timmy!”
Videos taken of this ordeal flooded social media, prompting outrage from his fans, especially when it was revealed that one of the Chalamets had been arrested. While this meeting was an unpermitted event, surely the police officers could have helped with the judging before getting down to business.
During the chaos, the man himself, Timothée Chalamet, showed up and snaked his way through the crowd until he reached two people that he believed most looked like him, with whom he took photos. Even some of the attendees didn’t realize he’d made an appearance, as the crowds were thick and he only stayed a couple of minutes before bolting back to the safety of his waiting car. After fifteen minutes, the police departed and a swarm of Timmys processed down the street as the event resumed at Mercer Playground.
Multiple rounds of judging took place as contestants introduced themselves, participated in a dating competition show and demonstrated their French fluency. Despite the thousands of people, there were only a dozen lookalikes taken seriously. The competition took a serious turn as the judges conferred about the two most important categories: hair and rizz. After much deliberation, they awarded the prize to Miles Mitchell, who came dressed as Willy Wonka from the blockbuster movie “Wonka.”
While the judges may have crowned Mitchell the winner, I think they were bribed by the candy he was throwing into the crowd instead of his resemblance. There were many other Timmys that deserved the prize just as much as Mitchell, most notably contestants Devin and his wig-wearing dog nicknamed “Pugathée Chalamet.” The swag, the flowing locks of hair and the “Twinothée” energy from these two were just beaten by someone in a purple robe throwing candy — which the dog wasn’t allowed to eat.
Despite the rigged system employed in these contests, they are a great place for singles to meet dozens of people who resemble an attractive famous person. And who knows what’s happening next Halloween? I’m personally rooting for a Glen Powell/Chris Evans/Ryan Gosling/generic white man lookalike contest.