Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest ends with police intervention and arrests

A Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest at Washington Square Park in New York City ended with police breaking up the event and detaining several attendees on October 27, 2024.

The contest, organized by YouTuber Anthony Po, promised a $50 prize and attracted a large crowd after Chalamet himself made a surprise appearance, drawing hundreds of fans and impersonators dressed as characters from his popular films Wonka and Dune.

As attendance quickly grew beyond expectations, the police intervened, citing safety concerns for the unpermitted event. According to CBS News, police issued a $500 fine to the organizers for holding an “unpermitted costume contest.” Additionally, at least one person was arrested and issued a summons for disorderly conduct. Paige Nguyen, a producer for Po, described the scene as “pandemonium,” adding, “It started off as a silly joke and now it’s turned into chaos.”

The incident quickly gained traction online, with Twitter users commenting on the surprising arrests at the lighthearted event. One user remarked, “Some of the Timothée Chalamet look-alikes are getting arrested at the Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest.” Another tweeted humorously, “Y’all they deadass arrested a Timothée look-alike LMFAOOOO imagine getting arrested at the Timothée Chalamet lookalike competition.”