Timothée Chalamet’s mom reflects on his viral high school rap persona ‘Lil Timmy Tim’

Timothée Chalamet’s mother is revisiting her son’s unconventional creative phase during his high school years, recalling his brief but memorable turn as a rap performer known as “Lil Timmy Tim.”

Speaking at the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala on May 20, Nicole Flender, 68, reflected on her son’s time at New York’s LaGuardia High School, where he developed the rap alter ego that later went viral online.

“He was a rap artist in high school, so he did his own thing,” Flender said, describing the now-famous persona that first surfaced in a 2012 video showing Chalamet performing an original rap before transitioning into Nicki Minaj’s “Roman Revenge” at a school event.

The clip helped cement the “Lil Timmy Tim” nickname among fans, long before Chalamet rose to international fame.

Flender also praised the reaction the performance received, noting in a previous interview that “everybody loved it,” and highlighting her son’s individuality and confidence in expressing himself creatively.

While Chalamet has since moved far beyond his school-stage persona to become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, his early rap moments have continued to resurface in popular culture. 

He has occasionally referenced the alter ego in comedy sketches, including appearances on Saturday Night Live, and more recently revisited it in a remix tied to his 2025 film Marty Supreme.

Flender also used the gala appearance to reflect on her son’s broader artistic instincts, saying he consistently “marches to his own beat” in everything he does.

She added that, unlike some performers, Chalamet never followed traditional training paths in all areas of the arts. 

“Timmy didn't take ballet classes. My daughter did… but Timmy did his own dancing,” she said, referring to her daughter.

Flender, who has often spoken publicly in support of her children, has previously emphasized that her role is not that of a “momager,” but simply a supportive parent. In earlier remarks, she said her priority has always been her children’s happiness over their careers.

Chalamet, now one of Hollywood’s leading stars, continues to balance blockbuster roles with a growing cultural presence that occasionally nods back to his early viral fame as “Lil Timmy Tim.”