Pet Peeve #40: Non-Celebrities Asking Celebrities to Go to the Prom or Ball

Okay. This has to stop.

Last year, a young woman in the Marines asked Justin Timberlake to the Marine Corps Ball. He accepted.

Soon afterward, another Marine asked Mila Kunis to another Marine Corps Ball. She also accepted.

Then, just a few days ago, a cancer-stricken high schooler asked Taylor Swift to the prom. She declined, but she instead invited him to attend an awards show as her date.

Here’s the thing: Kudos for having the guts to ask. Even asking a fellow high schooler takes guts, much less a famous person. Also, kudos to Timberlake, Kunis, and Swift for accepting. Good publicity, sure, but also very cool.

But please, people, stop doing this.

Okay, fine, so maybe there's ONE celebrity that I wouldn't mind going on a date with. That makes me just as creepy as these other people.

Part of it is that you’re putting celebrities in an incredibly uncomfortable position. If they say no, they look bad. If they say yes, they just agreed to go to the dance with a perfect stranger (more on that in a second).

Another part is that for every video that goes viral enough that a celebrity’s PR rep hears about it, there are thousands of videos that have about 3 views on YouTube. Just because you’re good at getting people to watch your video doesn’t mean you’re any more “worthy” to have a celebrity date. (Not that celebrities are any better than us common folk. It’s just that their job is making movies or albums, not going on dates with strangers.)

That brings me to my final point: It’s creepy.

Think about it. These people are asking total strangers to be their date to the dance. Think back to when you watched Friends every Thursday. Those people kind of felt like your friends, right? You knew their likes and dislikes, their quirks, their dating history.

Newsflash: You don’t know those people. On top of that, the people you think you know are actually just characters on a TV show. We don’t know what Timberlake or Kunis or Swift are like as people. We simply know their characters and their personalities.

Imagine tomorrow if you got on YouTube and watched an 18 year old go on and on about how much he wants to go to the prom with you. You’d be creeped out, wouldn’t you? Because it’s creepy.

What do you think? Would you ever ask out a celebrity on YouTube? Who?

Also, today marks the 6th anniversary of Twins Day, a day at my old job that was even creepier than people asking out celebrities on the Internet.

7 thoughts on “Pet Peeve #40: Non-Celebrities Asking Celebrities to Go to the Prom or Ball”

  1. Alright, who’s been asking out Jamey? First, we get the “I’m not a celebrity” post. Now we have a “Stop asking out celebrities” post. Fess up. Who was it? Sarah? Katie? Necktie Jess?

    For the record, while I usually find myself in agreement with our esteemed host, I could not disagree more on this one. Ladies, feel free to pursue me in any way you want. Video, email, just show up on my front porch – it’s all good. I don’t even have to know you. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and, provided you pass, we’ll be good to go. Unless you are the one pursuing Jamey. No way I’m getting downstream of him.

    Reply
    • Ha ha…well said, Brad. Fortunately I have not been put in this uncomfortable position beyond a few well-intentioned women who suggest that I be their wedding date (granted, I have a post on the blog about “How to Be a Great Wedding Date” that uses myself as an example). I’ve even considered making that a Jamey Points reward, although it completely contradicts today’s blog entry. Also, I don’t actually like being a wedding date…I’ve just learned how to do it pretty well when needed.

      That said, I think the ladies need to see this application you speak of.

      Reply
      • Here goes:

        Are you blonde?

        Is your name Kim? (Kim was my dog’s name. Can’t date a Kim.)

        Is it ever acceptable to wear flip flops?

        True of false: A license should be required to procreate.

        Your parents are _______. (This better be a positive answer, provided you were not abused. Respect your parents. They were trying.)

        On a scale of 1 to Barack, how important are you to the continuing existence of society as we know it? (Your answer better be 1.)

        Tell me 5 things about myself. (If this is going to be a one sided relationship, I’m out.)

        You must get every answer correct.

        Ladies, Jamey has my email address. Please include a picture.

        Reply
        • Okay, Brad. Let’s do this… I may fail on question one, but that’s just how these things go…

          Are you blonde? No

          Is your name Kim? (Kim was my dog’s name. Can’t date a Kim.)
          No.

          Is it ever acceptable to wear flip flops?
          Within a quarter mile of water.

          True of false: A license should be required to procreate.
          True

          Your parents are _______. (This better be a positive answer, provided you were not abused. Respect your parents. They were trying.)
          My parents are wonderful!

          On a scale of 1 to Barack, how important are you to the continuing existence of society as we know it? (Your answer better be 1.)
          1 or less

          Tell me 5 things about myself. (If this is going to be a one sided relationship, I’m out.)
          1. You love your Gym Friends
          2. Your greatest nemesis is Better Brad
          3. You were born in 1982
          4. In 1991 you began collecting baseball cards
          5. You received a C in your 10th grade chemistry class

          Reply
  2. You’ve got it backwards – Mila Kunis was asked first and Justin Timberlake was openly encouraging her to accept (she was hesitant at first and they were promoting their movie when they both learned about the YouTube video). So that then Justin Timberlake was asked seemed fitting since he’s been the one telling Mila Kunis she had to go.

    After that though—I agree, it’s been done and it’s no longer unique. The kid with cancer however was only unique in how he asked. I don’t think that’s all that unusual really – it’s just usually through the Make-A-Wish foundation or something, no?

    Reply
    • Thanks for the clarification. That changes *everything.* 🙂

      Sure, I can see plenty of kids requesting to meet their favorite celebrity or sports star as their make-a-wish. But I think there’s a big difference between getting in touch with their publicists behind the scenes and calling them out in public on YouTube. Also, I think there’s a big difference between asking your idol to visit you at your hospital bed than joining you for an entire evening at your Marine Ball.

      Reply

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