A Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest in Washington Square Park took what was supposed to be a low-key costume hang and transformed it into a free-for-all spectacle on October 27, 2024. YouTuber Anthony Po co-organized the event, calling on fans to dress up as some of the actor’s most iconic characters-Paul Atreides from Dune and Wonka, from the eponymous Wonka among them-for a modest $50 prize. What started with a small group of fans quickly escalated into thousands, which media frenzy did not fail to notice.
The high point of the event was when Timothée Chalamet himself arrived and joined the crowd. In a flash, the atmosphere became electric as fans surged to meet the actor, take photos, and share images of the surprise encounter on social media. Of course, Chalamet being amidst the crowd made it really exciting, while he mingled among contestants dressed as his characters in a selfie pose. Greeting fans singly for a moment of life,.
The climax of it all was the announcement of the winner-Miles Mitchell, 21-for his portrayal of Chalamet’s character, Willy Wonka. Dressed in an elaborate purple suit and top hat, Mitchell perfectly captured the whimsical essence of the character and won applauses from the crowd to take home the modest $50 prize amidst applause.
But it was starting to draw the attention of law enforcement as its crowd continued to swell well beyond early estimates.
The NYPD officials came and tried to control the crowd, as the arrival of so many fans had already started causing interference with the regular activities in the park. The NYPD, worried about safety and citing a lack of permits required for a gathering with so many people, slapped an organizer, Anthony Po, with a $500 fine. In the ensuing melee, one contestant was also arrested, for reasons that police seem yet unclear about.
After the event, Po posted to social media how surprised and amused he was with the overwhelmingly big turnout and the visit by Chalamet. “Never thought a $50 prize would bring in such a crowd-and definitely didn’t expect Timothée himself to show up!” he said, thanking fans for all their enthusiasm and speaking of the penalty as such that added a twist to his day. The mayhem that ensued from the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest has raised a debate about the latest craze of celebrity-likelihood public gatherings.
It has equally been stoked through social media and celebrity fandom, which have commanded more-than-expected crowds in such events, raising calls for crowd control and better planning to make the events safe. With news reports and eye-witness accounts by fans online, the incident has raised some sensibly basic questions about the responsibilities of events organisers around arranging events, and the importance of securing permits for events.
