Timothée Chalamet has a secret identity? The Oscar-nominated actor could be behind EsDeeKid's mask

In the past week, a theory featuring Timothée Chalamet as the protagonist has gone viral online. From TikTok to X, fans have begun to think that behind the mask of the British rapper EsDeeKid there might actually be the actor himself. The anonymous artist gained visibility in the rap scene only in 2024 with the tracks Phantom and LV Scandal, which in recent days have become hits on social media thanks to the conspiracy. But what are the reasons behind this strange theory?

The evidence connecting the two figures

The speculation began with a post by TikToker and cultural critic KJ. Freeman, who, before listing all the reasons behind her suspicion of Chalamet’s double life, stated: «What I’m about to say is probably one of the most insane things you’ll hear on this app today». She then continued with a bullet-point list highlighting all the similarities between the two figures.

Some of the so-called “evidence” is not very solid, such as the consecutive double “ee” in the names Timothée and EsDeeKid, or the photos showing them wearing the same Alexander McQueen skull scarf. Others, however, are impossible to ignore, starting with the similarity between their eyes: since it is the only visible part of EsDeeKid’s face, many focused on analyzing them, and indeed the color of their irises seems to be the same. Some fans also noticed the presence of the actor at Fakemink’s concert earlier this year, an artist with whom the anonymous rapper often collaborates.

A major question mark remains regarding the rapper’s Scottish accent. EsDeeKid is reportedly from Liverpool, and his strong cadence in the tracks proves it. If the person behind the balaclava were really the American actor, he would be making a considerable effort to emulate a pronunciation that is not his own. Chalamet, however, has had past experience imitating a British accent for his role as Henry V in the 2019 film The King. This is the perfect justification for fans who hope for the actor’s double identity.

A double life is nothing new for actors

Timothée would not be the first to radically change his career, moving from the world of cinema to that of music, and he may have taken inspiration from previous artists. First among them is Jamie Foxx, who built his star-studded life by balancing film sets and recording studios, managing to release as many as 5 solo albums, despite critics insisting he was simply imitating Ray Charles, whose role he played in the 2004 biopic.

Today, the most significant example is surely the transition from acting to music of Childish Gambino, the stage name of actor Donald Glover; despite roles in major films such as The Martian and Spider-Man Homecoming, and several awards, including two Golden Globes, the artist later focused on his music career, reaching its peak with the release of the album Awaken, My Love!, which earned him a platinum record.

A hidden past

A passion for music is nothing new for the actor, who, during his years at the LaGuardia school, developed an interest in rap in addition to acting. Under the name Lil’ Timmy Tim he pursued a rap career for a brief period, writing his first song dedicated to his statistics teacher, and the video is still available online. More recently, he portrayed the character $mokecheddathaassgetta on Saturday Night Live, alongside Pete Davidson, making it one of the show’s most iconic moments in recent years.

To this day, neither Chalamet nor EsDeeKid have denied the rumors, further fueling fans’ curiosity. This silence will certainly have an impact on the rapper’s career, as last week he promoted the new dates of his North American tour. Among those buying tickets to listen to his music, there will certainly be some intruders interested in discovering the truth behind the rapper’s balaclava. And who knows whether Chalamet will ultimately prove to be a rising star of rap as well as cinema.

Takeaways

- A viral theory on social media suggests that actor Timothée Chalamet is the secret identity of the anonymous rapper EsDeeKid, supported by physical similarities such as eye color, the use of an Alexander McQueen scarf, and his presence at concerts of related artists.

- Speculations persist despite EsDeeKid's Scottish accent, justified by fans with Chalamet's previous imitations of British accents in the film "The King," fueling the debate on his possible double artistic life.

- The transition from cinema to music is not new for actors, as demonstrated by the careers of Jamie Foxx, with five solo albums, and Donald Glover (Childish Gambino), who achieved success with platinum records despite his award-winning film roles.

- Chalamet has a musical background rooted in his school years at LaGuardia, where he experimented with rap as Lil’ Timmy Tim and more recently portrayed a rap character in an iconic Saturday Night Live sketch, without either he or EsDeeKid denying the rumors, increasing curiosity for the rapper's North American tour.