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Will the real Lil Timmy Tim please stand up? Evidently, the answer is yes.
On Sunday, native New Yorker Timothée Chalamet surprised a horde of curly-haired doppelgängers by crashing a Timothée Chalamet look alike contest held in Washington Square Park.
Perhaps in an effort to protect his identity (or scope out the competition), the Wonka actor stopped by the chaotic event where dozens were making an effort to mimic his streetwear aesthetic or otherwise don the look of his various movie roles. Several fans shared footage and photos of the actor meeting fans and coming face-to-face with his own clones.
Prior to Chalamet’s unexpected appearance, a massive crowd gathered around the Washington Square Arch in response to posters hung around the city spreading the news of the contest, which promised a $50 cash prize to its winner. By the time Sunday morning arrived, over 2,600 people had RSVP’d to attend the event.
While several arrived with the intent of witnessing the contest, others channeled Chalamet channeling Bob Dylan, put on their best top hat to become his version of Willy Wonka, or merely let their locks flow for the full Chalamet effect. Per fan updates on social media, and a livestream from the Associated Press, the contest was halted when NYPD officers arrived at the scene to break up the large crowd.
The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty
Representatives for the NYPD did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly’s request for comment.
Footage of the event saw at least one Chalamet look-alike led away by officers after having his hands zip tied. The organizer, who goes by Gilbert, eventually began leading attendees to a second location — though this did not entirely disperse the crowd within the park.
Those that stayed behind eventually got the benefit of meeting the real deal when Chalamet showed up amid the chaos. The actor is currently in the city filming Marty Supreme, the Ping Pong drama from Josh Safdie that also stars Gwyneth Paltrow.
