Could Kylie Jenner damage Timothee Chalamet’s image? Wonka star, who has ‘great feminine energy’ found fame as the ‘ultimate indie boy’ but could ‘isolate his fans’ after being linked to the Kardashians, brand expert claims
Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalament have become one of the hottest young couple’s in Hollywood, and they certainly aren’t afraid of very public displays of affection.
Take last night for example, the actor, 28, and reality star, 26, made sure all eyes were on them as they turned the 2024 Golden Globes into a date night, turning up late before ignoring the festivities around them to spend the evening engaged in PDA.
An onlooker told DailyMail.com that Timothee and Kylie only had eyes for each other in the A-list packed room: ‘They were at their table staring at one another.
‘They didn’t talk to anyone during the commercial break, they were just kissing… it looked like puppy dog love, like high school.’
The pair have been dating since early 2023 and have ramped up their public appearances together in recent months.
But could the thrice Oscar-nominated star’s association with the Kardashian brand hinder, rather than help him?
Fans have pondered the question. ‘Everyone’s perplexed about Timothee and Kylie as a couple because a fashion nova IG baddie and an indie bro getting together goes against every preconceived notion about dating we have. Its groundbreaking work,’ one fan wrote.
Speaking to FEMAIL brand expert Emily Austen explained the ‘Kylie effect’ could be damaging to Timothee’s brand among fans.
An onlooker told DailyMail.com that Timothee and Kylie only had eyes for each other in the a-list packed room: ‘It looked like puppy dog love, like high school’
The Wonka star, 28, who is nominated in the Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for the movie, held onto his 26-year-old love’s hand as they arrived at the ceremony late and were ushered in
‘Timothee has charmed fans with his rise to fame and his unorthodox perception of Hollywood.
‘He’s very much the under dog story, French, (Europeans are sexy), see doesn’t have the Hollywood “look” – muscles, build, fashion sense.
‘He has feminine energy, dresses energetically, and shuns the traditional trappings of celebrity culture. The has given an endearing sense of curiosity into his personality.
‘His girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, couldn’t be more opposite. She’s all but grown up on television, sharing every intimate detail of her life, business, bank balance, routine and journey to motherhood.
‘She lives, unapologetically, in the public eye, and sits outside of the credible, Hollywood acting scene. Although incredible successful in her own right, she is not without her criticisers, who challenge her choice of career, as an influencer’ she added.
Kylie and Timothee are said to have sparked up a romance after they both attended the Jean-Paul Gaultier fashion show on January 25, 2023.
Then in mid-April, after news broke of their coupling, Kylie’s Range Rover was seen in the driveway of Timothee’s Beverly Hills home.
That same month, People’s source reported that the stars were ‘hanging out and getting to know each other’ with another insider revealing that they ‘hang out every week’ but it’s ‘not serious’.
Kylie and Timothee hard launched their relationship by putting on a cozy display at Beyonce’s concert in September – which was also attended by her ex-boyfriend – and the father of her two children – Travis Scott.
The pair were seen kissing and flirting at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in a clip shared to social media, at the singer’s third and final LA Renaissance tour stop.
While Kylie has typically dated rappers – fans were bemused by her relationship with Hollywood star Timothee.
The rarely-seen couple turned the 2024 Golden Globes into a date night, turning up late before ignoring the festivities around them to spend the evening engaged in PDA
Sweet appeal! Wonka star Timothee Chalamet posing with selfies at the London premiere of his new film on Tuesday night; the 27-year-old French American star has seen hundreds of fans turning out to catch a glimpse of him at the global premieres so far
The actor shot to fame in Call me by your Name, Luca Guadagnino’s film about a gay summer romance in 2017.
Six years on, the curly haired, chisel-jawed, fashion-loving actor – with ‘non threatening energy’ – is at the peak of his cinematic powers.
So, what’s the appeal of the down-to-earth star who grew up in New York and is famously close to his family?
Emily added that the coupling won’t be damaging long term.
‘The Kylie effect could be damaging to Timothee’s credibility amongst fans, but likely won’t impact long term deals and film success,’ she added.
‘Given he is objectively talented, and has his own career, before Kylie, he has his own fan base.
‘Adding Kylie’s enormous following and earning potential into the mix is ultimately positive. Providing he doesn’t change his look – the quirky, indie vibe is very much part of his appeal – in the same way Johnny Depp had a similar impact. No doubt Wonka casting took that into account.
‘Timothee has stayed out of the spotlights for spotlights sake, and shows of affection such as the Golden Globes last night feel sightly incompatible with the version of him we think we know.
‘The real testing point will be if fans and producers feel that T is diluting his core brand aesthetic as a result of dating Kylie,’ she added.
Emily added that not being a classically brooding, over-muscled alpha Hollywood star means Chalamet can count on a wider fan base.
She says: ‘By all accounts, he’s an unlikely superstar. He is by no means the archetypical alpha male that has previously been heralded as the iconic Hollywood framework for success.’
People love the bilingual New Yorker, she says, because he’s a classic ‘cinnamon roll man’, the term given to a new kind of heartthrob, who offers an erudite two fingers up to toxic masculinity.
‘There is something reassuring about his feminine energy; we think he would be nice to us. There’s a vulnerability that he has been willing to show on many occasions, previously commenting that he finds the promotional cycles for his films to impact his mental health negatively.
‘It’s a Harry Styles-esque energy that is non-threatening, is grounded and allows us to connect with him as an individual.’
His biggest romance yet, with Kylie has pushed him into a another stratosphere of fame.
Two of the most famous people on the planet…but Chalamet and Kylie Jenner have kept their relationship low key (Pictured, the couple enjoying the tennis at the US Open in New York this summer)
Dating Jenner has seen Chalamet’s fan base increase as her followers – she has 399 million followers on Instagram – get on board with their romance (Pictured at the WSJ Magazine 2023 Innovator Awards in New York
Her fans – she has 399 million followers on Instagram – have seemingly fallen for him too.
‘Dating Kylie Jenner is probably incompatible with flying below the radar. We also feel like we know her, given we’ve watched her grow up on television,’ Emily went on.
‘There are few public appearances together, no loved-up selfies and it all contributes to a feeling that they are two people privately figuring out each other, and their relationship.
‘Kylie has amassed an enormous following globally, and no doubt fans will be surprised by the pairing – given Kylie previously sharing what her perfect man look and acts like.
Haddy Folivi, publicist and brand expert, added that the Karjenner brand is ‘one of the biggest in the world – so it could make Timothee a ‘Hollywood darling’.
‘His die hard fans, will probably grumble a bit, ditto with Kylie’s, but I don’t think it will effect his deals which ultimately is the most important thing, right? If anything, I think it will open up more deals, both in terms films and brand deals, and he is on track to become the next Hollywood darling.
‘Kylie knows what she is doing too, by going for someone edgier, to make her seem less sugary, so ultimately, I believe it’s a deal, I mean romance that will benefit them both commercially.’
The raven-haired actor is more than partial to a fashion shoot – posing up a storm for Vogue in September 2022 – and, like Styles, unafraid of outlandish stage outfits.
When it comes to on-brand collaborations, just like his acting career, he’s often chosen less than mainstream partnerships including with Swedish vegan shoe brand Tretorn.
Early break: The star shot to fame in Call me by your Name, Luca Guadagnino’s film about a gay summer romance six years ago when he was just 21
As his star has risen, that has changed a little; when he agreed to represent Chanel Bleu this year, a certain Martin Scorsese directed the accompanying film.
The star is famously close to his family too – growing up in the Big Apple with his French father Marc, New Yorker mother Nicole Flender and sister Pauline.
Brand expert Brenda Gabriel added: ‘Timothée’s journey to fame has been a blend of indie allure and blockbuster success. His success today has been majorly influenced by his ‘indie boy image’ and collaborations with notable directors such as Greta Gerwig. These collaborations have gained him critical acclaim and a strong fanbase, particularly among fans of independent and art-house cinema.
‘Actors often evolve and diversify their roles as their careers progress. Although Timothée initially gained recognition for his performance in indie roles, he has demonstrated his versatility as an actor by taking on a range of characters across various genres.
‘His breakthrough performances in films like “Call Me by Your Name,” and “Lady Bird,” resonated with critics and fans alike. His seamless transition into big budget productions such as “Dune” and more recently “Wonka”, showcased Chalamet’s undeniable talent and charm as well as his ability to adapt to different styles and genres.
‘Most recently they focus has been on Chalamet’s romantic relationship with Kylie Jenner. Celebrity personal relationships almost always generate public interest. In dating a high-profile celebrity such as Kylie Jenner, whose background is in reality TV and entrepreneurship, some may wonder how this might affects his public image.
‘Rather than damaging his career, a high-profile relationship with Kylie – who also is globally famous, has introduced Chalamet to new audiences, who may not have been aware of his work beyond Wonka. This will likely broaden his appeal and reach. I imagine the expansion of his fan base could open doors to new opportunities and projects.
‘Overall, what will define Timothée Chalamet’s success is his dedication to his craft, regardless of who he is dating.’
Says Austen: ‘He has spoken often about his connection with his family, and ultimately, that makes him incredibly relatable.
‘In his unusual style, Timothee has remained authentic – seemingly unchanged by fame and stardom.
‘He’s breaking boundaries quietly. He’s not a shouty activist. He is showing up for things that are important to him, and within all of his huge fandom, he appears as the same person he was before.
‘There’s much likability in the idea of someone unchanged by fame and tethered to reality. In many ways, Timothee is the underdog story, and he’s giving hope to a number of people who have felt that they didn’t fit into what society has told us to be.’
