Timothée Chalamet may be one of Hollywood’s biggest stars today, but according to his mother, there was a time when he was known for something completely different — rapping under the name “Lil Timmy Tim” at his New York high school.
During an appearance at the American Ballet Theatre’s Spring Gala, Timothée’s mother, Nicole Flender, reflected on her son’s unexpected rap phase while discussing his creative personality growing up.
“You know, he was a rap artist at a high school so he did his own thing,” Flender said while laughing about the now-viral chapter of his teenage years.
The nickname “Lil Timmy Tim” comes from a 2012 video filmed at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, where a teenage Chalamet performed an original rap before transitioning into Nicki Minaj’s hit track “Roman Revenge.”
At the time, nobody could have predicted the awkward high school freestyle would one day resurface online and become internet legend status among fans.
But years later, the clip exploded across social media, introducing people to an entirely different side of the future Oscar-nominated actor.
And according to his mother, everyone around him loved it.
In a previous interview with Business Insider, Flender praised the whole “Lil Timmy Tim” era, saying, “Everybody loved it.”
Even after becoming one of the most recognizable actors of his generation, Chalamet has never fully abandoned that playful rap persona.
Over the years, he has repeatedly referenced “Lil Timmy Tim” during comedy sketches on Saturday Night Live and recently revived the character again while promoting his 2025 Oscar-nominated film Marty Supreme.
For the movie’s promotion, Chalamet appeared in a remix of the song “4Raws” alongside EsDeeKid, bringing back the chaotic energy that first made the viral high school clip so unforgettable.
Flender also explained that her son always preferred doing things his own way creatively.
While his sister studied ballet more traditionally, Timothée apparently avoided formal dance classes entirely.
“Timmy didn’t take ballet classes… Timmy did his own dancing,” she said.
The comments perfectly match the image many fans already have of Chalamet — someone who built his career by leaning into individuality rather than trying to fit into Hollywood expectations.
Over the years, Flender has remained publicly supportive of her son’s success while avoiding becoming overly involved in his career decisions.
After Chalamet won the Critics Choice Award for Best Actor earlier this year for his performance in Marty Supreme, she proudly celebrated the moment online, calling attention to her son’s major achievement.
Still, she insists she sees herself more as a supportive cheerleader than a controlling “momager.”
And according to Flender, fame and awards were never the most important thing.
More than anything, she says she simply wants her children to be happy — whether they’re winning acting awards… or rapping as “Lil Timmy Tim” in front of a high school crowd years before the world knew their name.
