Rashid Al Haddad, a 19-year-old Yemeni social media influencer, has gained international attention for his striking resemblance to Hollywood actor Timothée Chalamet.
However, he is not interested in fame or beauty, but rather in supporting the Palestinian cause and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
Al Haddad, who has been dubbed “Timhouthi Chalamet” by his fans, has posted several videos on Instagram and TikTok, showing himself aboard a cargo ship captured by the Houthis in the Red Sea. The ship, named Galaxy Leader, was seized by the Houthi militant group on November 19, 2023.
Al Haddad, who identifies himself as a “media personality, actor, and photographer” on his Instagram profile, has said that he is “ready for sacrifice and eager for martyrdom” and that the Houthis "will bomb all Israeli ships". He has also expressed his solidarity with Palestine and urged his followers to focus on the Israeli aggression that violates human rights.
“I did not talk about beauty or anything else, but our issue is Palestine, and this is not the time to talk about beauty,” he said in a video posted on X. “I hope that my message will reach you, a free Palestine, and we will ignite it against the Israeli aggression that violates human rights.”
Al Haddad’s TikTok account, which had over 200,000 followers, was taken down on January 16, 2024, for unknown reasons. However, he has since started a new one, gaining more than a thousand followers in two days. He also has over 30,000 followers on Instagram, where he continues to share his messages and videos.
Al Haddad’s appearance and viral videos have sparked mixed reactions online, with some admiring his looks and others criticizing his support for the Houthis, who are accused of widespread war crimes and human rights violations by groups such as Human Rights Watch. Some have also questioned whether Al Haddad is a genuine Houthi pirate or a propaganda tool for the group.
Al Haddad, however, seems unfazed by the controversy and the comparison to Chalamet. He has even posted a side-by-side photo of him and the actor, suggesting they “star” in something together. “What do you think?” he asked his followers.
