Jacob and Anthony’s modern day prom bromance had the internet feeling all the feels. Knowing his gay bestie didn’t have a date for prom, Jacob surprised Anthony with an invite straight out of a ’90s teen movie:
Ellen DeGeneres, along with Shutterfly, fell in love with Jacob and Anthony’s story and so the Queen of Daytime invited the kids onto her show where she gifted them both with $10,000 checks to help further their educations.
Brace yourself for the following adorableness:
Les Fabian Brathwaite — prom queen, three years running
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Canary Marty
What a truly wonderful young man to accompany his best friend. I hope the younger boys and girls take heed from this.
Bill Eastridge
This is just the sweetest story. 🙂
Sameer Nurani
Damn got me tears…
lauraspencer
If Anthony is so “convincing” I have a feeling the “straight” guy will be convinced that he is gay. My gaydar is going off with this “straight” guy.
James Sigmon
What a great story and wow they both won 10,000
Xzamilio
@lauraspencer: Gaydar is nonexistent… nothing but overemphasizing body language and wishful thinking. If Prince can be straight, so can this guy.
dmanhart
That is going to be a bit embarrassing when they go to cash those checks. Will they even fit through the window glass?
Captain Obvious
@lauraspencer: Mine too and honestly I hope that’s the case because I find the straight savior thing rather nauseating.
I mean yes it’s cute that his “straight” friend asked him to prom because he didn’t have a date. But the way they hype it up like the poor pathetic queen needed the big masculine straight hero to save him is just really off-putting… and patronizing.
I was hoping I just just reading the situation wrong when I saw the story the first time but the interview really solidified the straight worship.
The real brave hero with balls of steel is the out gay kid in high school because even now in 2015 you still do get harassed and bullied for being out and gay in school.
Xzamilio
@lauraspencer: I take that back, considering that there is scientific research supporting it. However, there’s no reason to think this guy isn’t straight.
Milk
Way for some people to stray away from a story about good friendship between two high school kids. SMH.
Arcamenel
Why is it such a big deal that a gay guy is going to prom with a straight guy? I went to prom with two straight girls but I doubt anyone would think that is a big deal. Is it because of the public promposal? If you ask me it was kind of a mess. I mean it started off with a “no homo bro” type of deal. They could’ve just agreed to both go stag and color coordinate but somehow it’s a bigger deal because they are going “together”.
This is why I can’t take Ellen seriously. There are homeless LGBT youth she could bring on her show and give 10k to.
Evji108
@Captain Obvious: @Captain Obvious: How sad is your life when you have to put a negative interpretation on something positive and uplifting. You make it all so twisted and complicated, just like your life must be if you see the world in this duplicitous way. I think you must have a secret obsession with straight guys, because who else could even think of this angle on a simple act of friendship.
ait10101
Whenever a straight person tells me about the research confirming gaydar (it happens a lot recently due to my research interests and some recent research) I tell them I am gay. Most people don’t know although I am out to my colleagues, but don’t make a big deal of it. Anyway, after initial surprise they usually shut up about the research. Occasionally I get “but you don’t look gay”.
Mark Eason
What a great story had me in tears there is hope
SteveDenver
I love Ellen. It must be awesome to get to highlight people and their stories and hand out a little cash.
Can you imagine how many parents are telling their kids: “YOU GET OUT THERE AND FIND A HOMOSEXUAL FOR PROM SINCE YOU DIDN’T GET THAT SCHOLARSHIP!”
Taskebab
Ellen will not rest until every middle-class white man gets 10,000 dollars from her!!
Cagnazzo82
$10,000 for going to the prom? Wtf?
It’s a sweet story, don’t get me wrong. But I didn’t realize there was a prize involved at the end of this.
It just seems strange inviting people and just giving them an award like if they just won a competition.
stranded
@Evji108: I agree with both you and Captain Obvious. The one part of the story that keeps bothering me is the mention of Jacob “knowing Anthony didn’t have a date.” It does make him sound like Sad Sally. But beyond that, Captain Obvious, maybe you’re being too pessimistic? It’s about tolerance and not being afraid of “catching gay.” I think one of the teachable moments that i wish Ellen could have emphasized more (though she did touch on it) is not being afraid/defensive or freaked out that someone of the same sex has a crush on you. It’s no big deal, a crush is a crush and it says nothing about you except you’re good looking or charming to that person. If we had more examples of this in the media, then tragedies like the shooting of Larry King (2008) could be avoided.
throwslikeagirl
WHY do I always watch these things when I know that I’m going to be reduced to a weakened puddle of tears for at least 20 minutes!? Phew. This was wonderful when I first heard about it and even better now. It’s a great time to be living in the US as a queer person. We’ve definitely come a LONG way.
CCTR
@Cagnazzo82: the money is probably a subtle response to all of the go fund me campaigns that brought some recent bigots lots of money
DonW
I do wish we could celebrate heroism or simple human kindness in this country without showering people with money. It’s so goddamn vulgar. And I’ve yet to see Ellen give a check to someone who isn’t pinch-your-cheeks cute.
Arcamenel
The gay guy is on tumblr and made a post about how excited he was that his straight friend asked him to prom. I mean like…why? Honey please love yourself.
DarkZephyr
I have a big stupid grin on my face after watching this and not even Captain Obvious and Arcamenel can destroy my dumb grin. 😀
Trey Jacobs
So apparently there is money to be made by being nice to gays, and not just refusing to serve them pizza!
mezzacanadese
What a lovely story. I wish that such stories were more common.
Trina Vella
Great ! And I know if i was at prom age or debs i have great straight friends that would also do the same for me. You all know who you are so thank you x
nature boy
@DarkZephyr: me too ! The best part of watching the video is that so many of their classmates and parents came to the show as well. Their cheering was great. Thanks Ellen !
jason smeds
Look, I think this is a sweet story but why does Ellen feel compelled to give them money?
Captain Obvious
@Evji108: Project much? Try creating your own comments instead of focusing so hard on mine and maybe you won’t have to be so negative about what I write.
Archer Casio
Yey
jwtraveler
A little too cute for my taste, but it’s a nice story. Shockingly, @jason smeds has the most sensible comment on this. I agree. These are lucky kids with supportive friends, family and school. They’re doing well. Why does a wealthy celebrity feel the need to give them money just because they’re cute? Why not give the money to some poor, homeless LGBT kids who have run away or been kicked out of abusive homes and have nowhere to turn except to prostitution to earn money to survive?
This country has such f*#%ed up values. We give to people who are pretty or sexy or successful while ignoring people who are truly in need.
Cagnazzo82
@jwtraveler: Exactly my feelings as well.
It certainly speaks volumes to what this country values. Basically helping those who already have help and support, and ignoring people who have nobody and are suffering in silence. Because that’s not a sexy enough story to sell clicks and/or bring in viewers.
Deon Letsoalo
I knew he didn’t do this out of the goodness of his heart. There’s always a catch! Hahahaha 😀
Samuel Weng
What a nice story~
lykeitiz
I just love all these Bitter Betty’s on here moaning about Ellen giving these kids money.
Yes, Ellen should be going through the rubble in Nepal handing out Starbucks gift cards.
That Ellen…..she’s so misguided!
Like she said in the clip, many schools would not have allowed these two to go to prom together, let alone support it. But yes, let’s tell Ellen how to spend her money and where to shine her spotlight………..Pathetic!
jwtraveler
We live in a sad world; atrocity is commonplace and kindness is news.
Captain Obvious
@Deon Letsoalo: Exactly, but certain people are just going to pretend it’s oh so amazing because a cute straight white boy lowered himself to ask out a pathetic little gay boy of color who needed to be saved.
Honestly the patronizing way this kid even talks about his “gay friend” makes it obvious he’s only doing it for attention.
The straight kid gets to go back to being straight, have a legion of female fans, and become the most popular kid in school. The brave gay kid will still face bullies, harassment, and have a harder time. He can’t go “No, I’m straight.” after the dance.
If the straight kid had focused more on his “friend” and said how awesome he was for being himself in high school and brave enough to come out rather than focusing on himself I’d have a different attitude towards this story.
Ellen herself only focuses on the straight kid. The gay teen with courage takes the backseat to the straight boy who lowers himself to be a hero. It’s really sick, pathetic, and disturbing.
No one would bother telling a story about a cousin taking their single cousin to prom so they didn’t have to dance alone. That’s old news, so why is this so amazing? Oh because wow a cute straight white boy who could’ve asked any girl to prom chose to ask his pathetic gay friend. Wow what a hero he is, so incredible! Lets shine a light on the cute straight white boy and totally ignore that silly brown gay kid.
If you didn’t see any of that while watching the interview maybe watch it again. It’s right there in brown and white. Ellen loves straight guys, they bring her ratings which translates to more money, so it doesn’t surprise me.
jwtraveler
@lykeitiz: You’re an idiot.
Cee
The “straight” guy doesn’t seem str8 to me. Give it some time. He’ll come to the other side eventually…if he hasn’t already.
lykeitiz
@Captain Obvious: You said: If the straight kid had focused more on his “friend” and said how awesome he was for being himself in high school and brave enough to come out rather than focusing on himself I’d have a different attitude towards this story.
Maybe YOU are the one who should re-watch the clip. The straight kid said that he had never been very pro-equality until he met his intelligent, articulate friend who turned his mind around. The straight kid DID make it all about the gay kid. He was the one who made the gesture, so the story WAS about him.
@jwtraveler: I don’t know what world you live in, but discrimination is alive and well in high schools. If you want to shake your finger at every do-gooder because they’re not doing the good YOU think they should be doing, then fine, go ahead and call me names for pointing it out.
JimboinLA
So what does the ‘straight’ guy’s girlfriend think about all this? I’m thinking someone may be a little bi-curious.
batesnight
@lauraspencer: No, you just want the straight guy to be gay because he’s good looking.
batesnight
@Captain Obvious: I think you’re reading too much into it. They weren’t looking for publicity. It happened in the halls at the school. Other students recorded it and posted it on their social media, then suddenly it got picked up without them realizing it. I’m close to my ‘straight’ male friend and we’re no different than those two. He’s just not turned off because my sexuality goes a different way.
batesnight
@Arcamenel: Seems you posted without doing any research. Ellen has indeed given $10,000 to the homeless before, so don’t be so quick to judge like the rest of the world. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/03/ellen-homeless-man_n_5084771.html
Billy Budd
I believe the straight guy is actually straight. It is an adorable thing he did.
batesnight
@jwtraveler: Ellen has given money to the underprivileged as well as the homeless. Do some research.
jwtraveler
@lykeitiz: And how is giving $20,000 to these two young men helping to eliminate anti-gay discrimination?
Paul
I love seeing the Bitter Queen Brigade in the comments section.
Why can’t people just be happy that something POSITIVE is happening in the gay community?! In case you haven’t forgotten, Ellen’s career was KILLED when she came out in 1997. It wasn’t until 2001 that she slowly got back into the spotlight and her career was resurrected in 2003 with her talk show. Now, the roles are reversed. Ellen is the Gay Oprah with tons of money in the bank and she gets to shine a positive light on being gay. Something like this would NEVER have happened 20 years ago, or even 5 years ago.
Just because some of you may have lived during the days of Anita Bryant doesn’t mean you have to drag the rest of us down to that level. Let’s be proud we’re making PROGRESS in our history.
stranded
@DonW: OMG, i totally agree with you.
lauraspencer
@batesnight:
If you say so. He’s not my type. You can have him.
lauraspencer
@batesnight:
They were looking for publicity.
Kids now a days post everything for it to be seen and get attention. It isn’t a stretch to think a story like this one would easily get noticed and catch fire quickly.
jason smeds
Ellen likes to draw attention to herself. She is not a good role model for the GLBT community.
jwtraveler
@Paul: Ellen is a popular, public figure. When someone chooses to be in that position, she is opening herself to being critiqued by the public. I think it’s great that a lesbian is such a popular and successful TV personality and I applaud the fact that she draws attention to anti-gay discrimination, bullying, HIV/AIDS, teen suicide, etc. I’m sure she has contributed to many worthwhile causes. But just as we can praise her for the positive things she does, we are fully entitled to criticize her for errors and disappointments. This is not bitterness; this is being an engaged and critical-thinking member of the society.
Paul
@jwtraveler: I’m not saying Ellen is some sort of infallible Messiah. She’s made her mistakes in life as I’m sure we all have. However, I don’t think this is one of those times she should be criticized.