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The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Experience: I won a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest
When I first saw the flyer for the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest last October, I thought it was a joke. Lookalike contests were not mainstream yet. It was also taking place in New York's Washington Square Park – a place I usually associate with chaos. But last year a TikTok of me at a London barbershop went viral before because people thought I resembled Timothée. So, a day before the contest, I headed to a charity shop and picked out an outfit that made me look like Timothée's Willy Wonka. Why not? I was shocked by the size of the crowd on the day. There were thousands there and I was swarmed by people wanting photos. Before the contest even began, the police had arrived to shut it down. We relocated to a nearby park. It was later announced that Timothée had crashed the contest but left when the cops arrived. I missed his visit entirely. Once the contest began, we were asked to complete a series of activities, including a bizarre Timothée-themed Q&A. Eventually, they narrowed down the contestants to me and a lookalike named Zander, who was dressed in a Dune-inspired outfit. Whoever got the loudest cheer would win. At that point, I was pretty calm. I thought Zander had a good shot of winning, too, as he looked a lot like Timothée. After they announced I'd won, hundreds of cameras went off in front of me. The sensory overload was next level. The reporters were aggressively fighting over who would speak to me first. To top it all, I had to walk around Manhattan carrying a 6ft trophy and a massive $50 cheque. I was invited on famous talkshows, like The Drew Barrymore Show, and fast-food companies reached out to me to film sponsored content. A highlight was attending this year's Golden Globes. I was with my mum when I received my invitation, via Instagram DM from CBS, which was broadcasting the event. My mum and I both lost it. This would be my second interaction with Timothée, as I had already met him at a screening of the film A Complete Unknown, which I was also invited to. I had been lucky enough to sit in the front row and when Timothée came out to greet the crowd, I said: 'I kind of look like you.' I did not mention the lookalike contest, but he turned to me and asked: 'What place did you get?' After I told him, he asked for a photo with me. You'd think it would be the other way round. Before the Golden Globes, CBS flew me out to LA. On landing, I went out for a breakfast burrito, and the waiter told me I looked like Timothée. He was so stunned to learn I was there for winning the lookalike contest that he gave me my meal for free. At the Globes, I walked the red carpet with the winner of the Glen Powell lookalike contest. We stood there for three hours, holding signs that read: 'I won a lookalike contest and now I'm at the Golden Globes.' We spent most of the time looking at each other in disbelief, surrounded by the world's most famous celebrities. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion I thought meeting Timothée was off the cards. But just before the ceremony kicked off, he dashed through the red carpet. He stopped to acknowledge me – something he wasn't doing for anyone else. For a second time, he asked for a picture. I was grateful as he didn't have to do that. I watched the ceremony from the trophy engraving room. I took full advantage of the unlimited food and drink, and ate about 30 lamb chops. The voice actor for Moana came up and said, 'Oh my god, you won the lookalike contest! Fuck, yeah, you did!' But I didn't recognise many people who approached me for pictures. The CBS team had to tell me who they were. I'd just think: 'Wow, that's insane.' It was hands-down the best night of my life. Later, Saturday Night Live asked me to feature me in a promo for a show Timothée was hosting, but I was in Europe and couldn't make the 12-hour turnaround. They cast someone else who wasn't even at the contest. I was disappointed, of course, but that's how this industry works. I'm optimistic about future opportunities, but even if that was the peak, I'm still grateful for all the cool things I got to do. As told to Maria Vieira Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Lorde reveals how 'anti-terror' cops shut down her NYC video shoot
The singer Lorde has described how her music video shoot in New York City was shut down by police. The 28-year-old artist had her performance in April scuttled by 'anti-terrorism' NYPD officers over crowd concerns. She detailed the shocking incident during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Tuesday. Promoting her album Virgin, which goes on sale today, Lorde explained in detail the series of events that led to the filming of her video for What Was That? in Washington Square Park being stopped due to an amassing of fans who wanted to be present for the shoot. Colbert noted that 'such a mob showed up' in the famed park in Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, 'That the cops shut it down.' 'Yeah, we had the antiterrorism unit being very intense, telling me if I stepped on the premises I would be arrested for riot incitement,' the Royals singer said. The vocalist, whose real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, explained that she 'couldn't show up for many hours' as authorities sought to clear the area. The singer said she was later cleared to return to the park and finish production on the clip - but she had to nail it in a single take. 'I came back later, they said, "You can go out, you have one shot at it,"' Lorde explained. She continued: 'If people don't maybe know this, we were launching my first song for this album, but we were also shooting the music video, which would come out 24 hours later.' She said 'there was an edit that had to be gotten to very quickly' and that 'a lot of dominoes had to fall right for this to work.' In excerpts of the filming, Lorde was seen telling her fans they were 'so amazing' and that she loves them 'so much.' The NYPD issued a statement to People explaining in detail the series of events surrounding the video shoot. It read: 'On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at approximately 18:47 hours in the vicinity of Washington Square Park, in the confines of the 6th Precinct, officers were alerted of an unscheduled event inside of the park. 'A sound and parks permit is required to have a concert in a New York City Park. This individual did not possess either. They noted that 'organizers of the event were informed they could not perform and they left the location.' In the interview on Tuesday, Lorde explained the creative process as she prepares to release her fourth studio album, following 2013's Pure Heroine, 2017's Melodrama and 2021's Solar Power. The singer, who is gearing up to tour in support of the album beginning this fall, said that an artist learns 'so much' in the creative process of putting together a record. 'Honestly, I think of the process of making an album is going out on a quest,' the Hammer vocalist said. 'It's this real journey - you pick up these questions along the way. 'You're trying to really get somewhere. For me, the album is sort of a byproduct of that process.' She added: 'Like, I make the album because it's a period of so much discovery.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lorde Drops Final ‘Virgin' Single: ‘An Ode to City Life and Horniness'
Lorde has released the final song before the arrival of her forthcoming studio album, Virgin. On Thursday night, the singer-songwriter dropped the new single 'Hammer.' 'Hammer. Last song before Virgin,' Lorde wrote on social media. 'First song on the album. An ode to city life and horniness tbh.' More from Rolling Stone Karol G, Cardi B, Lorde, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week Lorde Can't Listen to 'Virgin' Deep Cut 'Clearblue': 'That Whole Song Just Destroys Me' Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Haim, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week Last month, Lorde unveiled the 11-song track list for Virgin, and in a Rolling Stone cover story, described the record's lyrics as being 'right on the edge of gross.' 'I think coming more into my body, I came into an understanding of the grotesque nature of it and the glory and all these things,' she said at the time. The singer released synth-pop number 'What Was That' and the grittier, 'Man of the Year,' earlier this year. Lorde accompanied the former with a video of herself alone throughout New York before meeting up with fans and dancing in the center of Washington Square Park. While discussing the latter, Lorde revealed that 'Man of the Year' was intrinsic to her embracing the fluidity of her gender identity. The cover art for Virgin, out June 27, is an X-ray of Lorde's pelvis that shows the exact placement of her IUD. When speaking to Rolling Stone cover story, Lorde said: 'I felt like stopping taking my birth control, I had cut some sort of cord between myself and this regulated femininity. It sounds crazy, but I felt that all of a sudden, I was off the map of femininity. And I totally believed that that allowed things to open up.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Experience: I won a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest
When I first saw the flyer for the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest last October, I thought it was a joke. Lookalike contests were not mainstream yet. It was also taking place in New York's Washington Square Park – a place I usually associate with chaos. But last year a TikTok of me at a London barbershop went viral before because people thought I resembled Timothée. So, a day before the contest, I headed to a charity shop and picked out an outfit that made me look like Timothée's Willy Wonka. Why not? I was shocked by the size of the crowd on the day. There were thousands there and I was swarmed by people wanting photos. Before the contest even began, the police had arrived to shut it down. We relocated to a nearby park. It was later announced that Timothée had crashed the contest but left when the cops arrived. I missed his visit entirely. Once the contest began, we were asked to complete a series of activities, including a bizarre Timothée-themed Q&A. Eventually, they narrowed down the contestants to me and a lookalike named Zander, who was dressed in a Dune-inspired outfit. Whoever got the loudest cheer would win. At that point, I was pretty calm. I thought Zander had a good shot of winning, too, as he looked a lot like Timothée. After they announced I'd won, hundreds of cameras went off in front of me. The sensory overload was next level. The reporters were aggressively fighting over who would speak to me first. To top it all, I had to walk around Manhattan carrying a 6ft trophy and a massive $50 cheque. I was invited on famous talkshows, like The Drew Barrymore Show, and fast-food companies reached out to me to film sponsored content. A highlight was attending this year's Golden Globes. I was with my mum when I received my invitation, via Instagram DM from CBS, which was broadcasting the event. My mum and I both lost it. This would be my second interaction with Timothée, as I had already met him at a screening of the film A Complete Unknown, which I was also invited to. I had been lucky enough to sit in the front row and when Timothée came out to greet the crowd, I said: 'I kind of look like you.' I did not mention the lookalike contest, but he turned to me and asked: 'What place did you get?' After I told him, he asked for a photo with me. You'd think it would be the other way round. Before the Golden Globes, CBS flew me out to LA. On landing, I went out for a breakfast burrito, and the waiter told me I looked like Timothée. He was so stunned to learn I was there for winning the lookalike contest that he gave me my meal for free. At the Globes, I walked the red carpet with the winner of the Glen Powell lookalike contest. We stood there for three hours, holding signs that read: 'I won a lookalike contest and now I'm at the Golden Globes.' We spent most of the time looking at each other in disbelief, surrounded by the world's most famous celebrities. I thought meeting Timothée was off the cards. But just before the ceremony kicked off, he dashed through the red carpet. He stopped to acknowledge me – something he wasn't doing for anyone else. For a second time, he asked for a picture. I was grateful as he didn't have to do that. I watched the ceremony from the trophy engraving room. I took full advantage of the unlimited food and drink, and ate about 30 lamb chops. The voice actor for Moana came up and said, 'Oh my god, you won the lookalike contest! Fuck, yeah, you did!' But I didn't recognise many people who approached me for pictures. The CBS team had to tell me who they were. I'd just think: 'Wow, that's insane.' It was hands-down the best night of my life. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Later, Saturday Night Live asked me to feature me in a promo for a show Timothée was hosting, but I was in Europe and couldn't make the 12-hour turnaround. They cast someone else who wasn't even at the contest. I was disappointed, of course, but that's how this industry works. I'm optimistic about future opportunities, but even if that was the peak, I'm still grateful for all the cool things I got to do. As told to Maria Vieira Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Lorde reveals shock exchange with NYPD antiterrorism unit as she filmed new video
Singer Lorde on Tuesday said that authorities in New York City had to shut down a music video shoot she was working on due to crowd control concerns. The New Zealand-born artist, 28, appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday to promote her upcoming album Virgin, which goes on sale Friday. The popular musical artist explained in detail the series of events that led to the April filming of her video for What Was That? in Washington Square Park being scuttled, as too many fans showed up. Colbert noted that 'such a mob showed up' in the famed park in Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan 'that the cops shut it down.' 'Yeah, we had the antiterrorism unit being very intense, telling me if I stepped on the premises I would be arrested for riot incitement,' the Royals singer said on the CBS late night program. The vocalist, whose real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, explained that she 'couldn't show up for many hours' as authorities sought to clear the area. She explained in detail the series of events that led to the filming of her video for What Was That? in Washington Square Park being scuttled, as too many fans showed up The Tennis Court performer said she was later cleared to return to the park and conclude production on the clip - but she had to nail it in a single take. 'I came back later, they said, "You can go out, you have one shot at it,"' Lorde explained. She continued, 'If people don't maybe know this, we were launching my first song for this album, but we were also shooting the music video, which would come out 24 hours later. The two-time Grammy winner said that 'there was an edit that had to be gotten to very quickly.' The Man of the Year performer said that 'a lot of dominoes had to fall right for this to work.' The NYPD issued a statement to People explaining in detail the series of events surrounding the video shoot. The New Zealand-born artist appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday to promote her upcoming album Virgin, which goes on sale Friday Said the NYPD: 'On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at approximately 18:47 hours in the vicinity of Washington Square Park, in the confines of the 6th Precinct, officers were alerted of an unscheduled event inside of the park. 'A sound and parks permit is required to have a concert in a New York City Park. This individual did not possess either. They noted that 'organizers of the event were informed they could not perform and they left the location.'
