Celebrities and others across the Internet are planning to turn an instance of online bullying into a giant dance party to combat body-shaming.
It all started when a user of messageboard 4chan uploaded a body-shaming photo of an overweight man dancing at a night club. The post called Sean a “specimen” and noted that he looked distraught after other club goers laughed at him.
After the post received attention for its mean-spirited nature, Twitter user Cassandra Fairbanks took up the cause on the social media platform and sought to find the man in the post. The word spread quickly as people around the world tweeted in search of the dancing man and launched a #dancingman hashtag.
The man, eventually identified as Sean in London, launched a Twitter account of his own to thank his many supporters.
Just woke up to be greeted with so many more kind words. Big thanks again and am sure the charity will appreciate it as well. Thanks again
Now, Cassandra and others have raised more than $30,000 to fund “the dance party of a lifetime.” The party, which will benefit an anti-bullying campaign, has also received the support of celebrities including Pharrell and Ellie Goulding.
— Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (@lacoliseum) March 7, 2015
The 15 Most Bizarre Moments From the Consumer Electronics Show
A brand ambassador tests Samsung's Gear VR headset at the Samsung Galaxy booth on Jan. 6, 2015.Jae C. Hong—APFrank Lee, Brand Marketing for LG Electronics MobileComm USA, demonstrates the enhanced selfie feature on the new LG G Flex 2 mobile phone on Jan. 5, 2015. Michael Nelson—EPAAttendees lay on Serta mattresses at the Serta stand on Jan. 6, 2015.Robyn Beck—AFP/Getty ImagesJoe Clayton, CEO of Dish, arrives on stage banging a bass drum followed by company mascots during the Dish news conference on Jan. 5, 2015. Rick Wilking—ReutersA transparent TRW model car is seen on Jan. 6, 2015. Yang Lei—Xinhua Press/CorbisAt the 'Unveiled-event' a young woman has a look at salad on Jan. 4, 2015. Britta Pedersen—dpa/CorbisThe drone 'Nano' from 'Zano' on Jan. 8, 2015. Britta Pedersen—dpa/CorbisAttendees interact with wity screens that run on Intel's Realsense technology on Jan. 6, 2015.Michael Nelson—EPAAn attendee wears Altspace Virtual Reality head ware on Jan. 6, 2014.Michael Nelson—EPASony Electronics President and COO Mike Fasulo displays the Sony 4K Action Cam at a press event on Jan. 5, 2015.David Becker—Getty ImagesConsumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro exits a Mercedes-Benz F 015 autonomous driving automobile after it was unveiled at a Mercedes-Benz press event on Jan. 5, 2015.David Becker—Getty ImagesA display shows Panasonic's virtual make-up mirror at a Panasonic news conference on Jan. 5 , 2015.Steve Marcus—ReutersSelfie sticks of the company 'Noosy' displayed on Jan. 8, 2015.Britta Pedersen—EPAWorld freediving champion Stig Severinsen holds his breathe underwater for a total of 5 minutes, 35 secs to demonstrate the functionality and accuracy of the Masimo SET pulse oximetry device on Jan. 8, 2015.Robyn Beck—AFP/Getty ImagesWorkers install an advertisement for a new S'UHD TV from Samsung Electronics on the side of the Las Vegas Convention Center on Jan. 4, 2015.Steve Marcus—Reuters