New York Police Department officers dispersed the crowd for gathering without a permit
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Police just shut down a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest.
On Sunday, Oct. 27, fans who organized the Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Competition and promoted it with posters around the city, experienced multiple surprises at the event in New York City’s Washington Square Park.
According to reports from NBC New York, hundreds of people gathered near the park’s arch around 1 p.m., including fans dressed up as the 28-year-old actor’s famous characters such as Willy Wonka from Wonka and Bob Dylan from Chalamet’s upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown.
At one point, the Oscar nominee surprised the crowd at the unofficial competition, with video of his arrival captured by the Associated Press and by fans on X showing him waving, greeting fans and posing for photos as he pushes his way through the crowd as fans screamed.
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New York Police Department officers quickly arrived on the scene to try and disperse the crowd for gathering without a permit, NBC reported. A police spokesperson told the outlet that at least one person was detained and issued summonses, and a video shared by one attendee to X alleged that the event’s organizer was arrested.
In the video captured by AP, police can be heard blaring sirens and announcing, “You’re all gonna get summonses” over a megaphone to encourage the crowd to disperse.
Despite the police presence, attendees still tried to hold their competition, and several lookalikes made their way through the crowd to prove they looked like Chalamet. A fan wearing a purple Willy Wonka costume was ultimately crowned the winner, although it’s unknown if they received the $50 promised as the grand prize.
This isn’t the only fan-centric event held in Manhattan that was shut down by police in recent years.
In August 2023, Twitch streamer Kai Cenat organized a giveaway for fans that would include free computers, Playstation 5s, microphones, keyboards, webcams, gaming chairs, headphones and gift cards. Thousands of fans then gathered in Union Square Park, and the NYPD alleged that the crowd became rambunctious and at least three officers were injured.
The police added that 60 people were arrested including 30 minors. Following the incident, Cenat originally faced charges of inciting a riot and unlawful assembly, but the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced in May that it had decided not to pursue charges against Cenat.