Students across America celebrated graduation in what has, unfortunately, become 2020’s signature style: virtually. There were no group hugs, no celebratory cues to hurl mortar boards to the sky, and never did anyone need to stifle laughter when the dopey Vice Principal mispronounced someone’s name.
Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020, presented by NBA star Lebron James, aired over broadcast and cable channels on Saturday, but also on TikTok, Snapchat, and whatever the heck else the kids are using these days.
Former President Barack Obama gave the keynote speech, and prefaced his words of encouragement with some levity, remarking that “as much as I’m sure you love your parents, I bet being stuck at home with them playing board games or watching Tiger King on TV is not exactly how you envisioned the last few months of your senior year.”
One section of Obama’s address was interpreted by some as a poke at Donald Trump. “Do what you think is right,” Obama said. “Doing what feels good, what’s convenient, what’s easy, that’s how little kids think. Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grownups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way, which is why things are so screwed up.”
Other highlights included Zendaya saluting teachers, Bad Bunny stressing that success is not measured in money, Megan Rapinoe telling the Class of 2020 that “this is your moment and it is unlike any we have ever see before,” and Kumail Nanjiani popping by as his Animal Crossing avatar.
Musical guests included Dua Lipa, Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers, and Broadway star Ben Platt with his brothers Henry and Jonah performing a “Graduation Medley.”
Additional congratulatory notables included Olivia Wilde, Pharrell Williams, Lena Waithe, Yara Shahidi, Kevin Hart, Dave Matthews, Shaquille O’Neal, Malala Yousafzai, and more.
Timothée Chalamet, however, offered some words of encouragement which sent the Internet into a tidal wave of delirium. The Call Me By Your Name star and alumnus of New York City’s prestigious LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts saluted some of his teachers, including “Ms. Lawton” for her “valiant efforts to teach me the art of statistics.”
This is, of course, a call back to a recently unearthed music video étudiant Chalamet made in his younger days that, if you’ve missed it, you really do need to see.
The Graduate Together team also slipped in a nice Chalamet behind-the-scenes moment on their Instagram feed, even if they did jump the gun by three years.