The Rise of Unserious Events: A Lookback at the Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Contest

In an era dominated by sponsored influencers, celebrity worship, and meticulously crafted pop culture moments, we find ourselves craving something different. Something whimsical, spontaneous, and real.

Enter "unserious events": a breath of fresh air in our overly curated social landscape.

Looking for Timmy number 2

We first caught word of the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest from a viral tweet. A mysterious flyer on a lamppost, with a QR code and Timothée’s face. When we realized the QR code led to a Partiful page (naturally), we immediately got in touch with the organizers (shoutout Anthpo and Paige Nguyen) to ask how we could help them make the event as successful as possible.

Over the next couple weeks, we saw RSVPs skyrocket as news spread through word of mouth and social media. It was pretty hard to believe that so many people would be interested in something so silly and chaotic.

But believe we did. And last weekend, thousands of people flocked to Washington Square Park on a Sunday—not for a high-profile concert, but to witness a homegrown celebration of everyone's favorite jawline. The internet exploded in response. Livestreams from major publications, hundreds of viral Tiktoks, and a new Twitter meme format: thirsty “lookalike” copycat events.

Several Timothée lookalike contestants were even featured in GQ and contacted by casting agencies. At this point, what started as a tiny little flyer and a Partiful page became a bona fide pop culture moment™.

But why are unserious events gaining such traction? The answer lies in our desire for authenticity, stronger than ever in a world of digital feeds and Zoom calls. We're drawn to in-real-life moments that break the mold of perfectly polished Instagram feeds and PR-approved statements.

It's why Chappell Roan's unfiltered comments on red carpets have extended her time in the limelight. Why Dakota Johnson's infamously awkward press tour for Madame Web ended up being a unexpected boost for the movie.

Why Timothée himself showed up to witness his lookalikes vying for a grand prize of $50. Even celebrities aren’t immune: they’re also looking for joy in collective silliness.

We need more unserious events™

The beauty of unserious events lies in their ability to bring people together in the most unexpected ways. Remember the "Cheeseball Man" back in April? Hundreds showed up to Washington Square Park to witness someone attempt to eat an entire jar of cheeseballs. It was absurd, it was pointless, and that's precisely why it was brilliant.

These gatherings aren't just about the event itself; they're about creating shared experiences and memories. In Anthpo’s own words (P.S. he not only organized the Timothée event, but was behind the Cheeseball Man as well):

"I love whimsical things, and bringing people together. Excited to create more stories for NYC and the world."

But why stop at attending these events? Why not create your own? Rally your friends and have a “Worst Dancer” competition, a “Medieval Monks vs. Nuns” drinking competition, or a “Dress Like Roger the Alien” costume party. The internet has made it easier than ever to link up for the most random of reasons. Making those core IRL memories is one of the reasons why we’re building Partiful in the first place.

So let's embrace the unserious. Let's create more events that make people scratch their heads, and then smile. In a world that often takes itself too seriously, let’s create spaces for joy and absurdity — where everyone’s invited.