Chicago Crowns Jeremy Allen White Lookalike

On Saturday, a Chicago park was the site where dozens of individuals gathered, competing for the title of the top Jeremy Allen White lookalike. Participants, one of whom was a toddler, dressed in chef’s aprons and white t-shirts, emulating White’s character Carmen Berzatto from the popular TV series The Bear. Other competitors chose to portray his character Phillip from Shameless, another television program based in Chicago. Hundreds of onlookers applauded as each contestant presented their likeness. The honor was awarded to Ben Shabad, a 37-year-old mental health therapist, based on the volume of cheers. Mr. Shabad commented to the Chicago Tribune, stating, “I didn’t really plan on winning – especially when I saw all these guys that looked like Jeremy Allen White – but the energy here is so exciting.” For his prize, Mr. Shabad was given $50 and a pack of cigarettes, which referenced Berzatto’s significant smoking habit in the show. The series, currently in its third season, chronicles the journey of Carmy, a young chef from the fine dining scene, who returns to manage his family’s sandwich shop in Chicago following his brother’s suicide. At the 2024 Emmy Awards, the program secured six awards, including three for acting, tying with Succession for the highest number of honors. Chicago roommates Kelsey Cassaro and Taylor Vaske were the organizers of the lookalike contest. The duo drew inspiration from the recent success of comparable events held for other public figures such as Dev Patel and Paul Mescal. In October, Timothée Chalamet surprised attendees by appearing at a lookalike competition for him in New York. Saturday’s gathering in Chicago represents the most recent in a series of such contests nationwide, indicating that the trend of celebrity doppelganger events continues. “People were online saying, ‘Why doesn’t Chicago have one?’” Ms. Cassaro told the Chicago Sun-Times. She further stated, “I was like, ‘I think it should be Jeremy Allen White if we do it.’ And I also think a lot of Chicago dudes look like him.” Initially, Cassaro and Vaske conceived the event as a jest, sharing information on social media and distributing flyers throughout Chicago. After it gained traction online, they opted to formally arrange it. In contrast to Chalamet, White was not present at the contest. Nevertheless, this did not diminish the enthusiasm of his lookalikes. Mr. Shabad remarked, “I’m just impressed by [White’s] acting ability, and the shows that he’s been in have been really good, so I take it as a compliment that people think I look like him.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.