It seems Timothée Chalamet's fame has not only inspired fervent adoration but also spurred some legal hullaballoo. The young star's lookalike contest, a gathering that turned heads and caused quite the stir in New York City's Greenwich Village, has led to an unexpected act of generosity from Chalamet's team. According to New York Daily News, Chalamet's reps reached out to Anthony Po, the YouTuber behind the viral event, offering to pay the $500 fine imposed for hosting without a permit.
While it was an expensive day for Po, who mentioned that the fine paled in comparison to the contest's $4,000 cost, he gracefully declined Chalamet's offer, stating, "They offered to pay the ticket, which is truly funny," Po told Variety. The bill was footed by Partiful, the digital app used to circulate the event's invites, leaving Po to at least financially brush off the police intervention. Chalamet's team didn’t just offer to write a check; they also expressed their amusement and support for the event, providing a plaudit that Partiful couldn't.
The contest itself truly caught on, ballooning to a turnout that swamped Washington Square Park under the arch with Chalamet enthusiasts. The police ended up dispersing this surprised crowd, but not before things had spiraled into the kind of spectacle that can only be described as 'peak internet culture'. There were trophies, a modest cash prize, and an encounter with the "Dune" star himself—whose cameo appearance sent ripples through social media channels.
The ripple effect of this contest didn't stop at just catching the attention of its celebrity subject—now it's gone viral to an extent that even law enforcement couldn't ignore. And as it turns out, wearing a famous face (or at least a good facsimile of one) can draw more than attention; it can also draw ire and penalties from the powers that be. Po didn't seem too fazed, however, noting to New York Daily News, that if authorities want to really discourage such creative gatherings, they'll need to do something stronger. Meanwhile, the world waits to see who next will inspire a mass doppelgänger assembly.
