Timothée Chalamet crashes his own lookalike contest when NYPD puts a doppelganger in cuffs

A sea of ​​20-something guys, with a mix of defined jaws, hazel eyes and mops of curly hair, gathered in New York City's Washington Square Park on Sunday afternoon to take part in the Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Contest. But in a surprising twist, about 30 minutes into the contest, the real-life Chalmette made a surprise appearance in the middle of the crowd.

Chalamet weaved his way through the packed crowd before hiding behind a black mask and baseball cap, sneaking up on two doppelgangers to pose for photos. Once he reached the middle, he took off his mask for the big reveal as a quick scream broke out across the park.

Prior to Chalamet's appearance, the NYPD attempted to quell the rapidly growing crowd under the park's iconic arch. Minutes after the competition began at 1 p.m., police escorted the group to the north side of the park, even placing one of the doppelgangers in cuffs although the reason for his arrest is unknown.

The lookalike contest was promoted over the past few weeks with a public party invitation as well as flyers posted around town promising a $50 cash prize for the winner. As of Sunday morning, the event had more than 2,500 RSVPs

Chalamet pulled behind one of the more popular lookalikes, 22-year-old Spencer DiLorenzo who spent many an afternoon posting photos. At one point, he was hoisted onto a chair as the crowd cheered him on.

DeLorenzo says that since the actor's star-turning role in “Call Me by Your Name” in 2017, he's been told he looks like Chalamet.

“It gets old after a while but I'll take it,” he says, adding that he's excited to meet new people and doesn't care as much about the cash prize. “But right now, I'm totally in on the joke.”

In another look, 18-year-old TikToker Kramer Ekholm was even flown in from Wisconsin by beauty brand MCO to compete in the beauty pageant. Ekholm, who has more than 253,000 followers on TikTok, is best known on the platform for her resemblance to Chalamet.

“It's my number one comment on social media,” he says. “I didn't like it because I'm my own person but now I've learned to embrace it.”

Other lookalikes shared similar sentiments about their comparison with the heartthrob actor. “Sometimes it's a bit of a downer,” says 19-year-old Max, who found out about the pageant after several friends sent him partial invitations.

“I don't really like it that much, it makes me a bit insecure. I get a little self-conscious but I don't want to bring it up because it makes the conversation awkward. So I just have to smile and be like, 'Thank you very much.'

Another Timmy twin, Jack Robbins, 27, says it's annoying on dating apps, where girls call him “the discount Timothée Chalamet” but adds that he's a great guy so “I'll take what I can get.”

At one point, two tourists from France looked on in bewilderment as people gathered around the A-list celebrity snapping photos with gusto. I expected them to walk away disappointed when I told them they were just an appearance. Instead, they both immediately reached for their phones to snap a photo.

For a brief moment on Sunday afternoon, any boy with curly hair got a taste of fame.