David Farnor | On 20, Jun 2020

YouTube’s Dear Class of 2020 virtual graduation event is the most-viewed live YouTube original event to date.

Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift were among the star names joining the Obamas and BTS for the event, a virtual commencement celebration bringing together inspirational leaders, celebrities, and YouTube creators to celebrate graduates, their families, and their communities.

The ceremony included commencement addresses delivered by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, with other speeches coming from BTS, Lady Gaga, former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Malala Yousafzai.

Beyoncé delivered an inspirational message, and Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift made guest appearances – alongside Demi Lovato, Janelle Monáe and Billy Porter.

The event premiered on Sunday 7th June, and reportedly drew more than 665,000 peak concurrent viewers – and, in the day after the event, racked up 17 million total views. Dear Class of 2020 was also the top trending topic on Twitter during the event, making it the most talked-about YouTube original launch to date, in terms of social media impact.

Read on for some highlights from the event:

President Barack Obama

“America changed — has always changed — because young people dared to hope. As someone once said, ‘Hope is not a lottery ticket. It’s a hammer for us to use in a national emergency to break the glass, sound the alarm and sprint into action. ‘”

Beyoncé
“Look how far you’ve come and how much you’ve contributed. Keep pushing. Forget the fear. Forget the doubt. Keep investing and keep betting on yourself.”

Jimmy Kimmel
“I know this is a lousy time to enter the real world, but years from this, you will have what few people do: a cool story. Know what year I graduated high school? 1985. You know the most interesting thing that happened in 1985 was? “Police Academy 2,” ‘kay? Look it up. But when you tell people the year you graduated, everyone will be super interested, they’ll wanna know what was it like? Did you live underground? Did you used to touch hands with each other? Who did you take to the prom: your mom or your dad? Did the president really tell people to drink bleach?”

Alicia Keys
“You, my friends, you are graduates in the most powerful time to be coming of age. And there’s nothing and no one that can stop you from changing the world. I see you. You’re unstoppable. We honor you and celebrate you.”

Liza Koshy
“You should also know you’re not alone. You’ve got a lot of company. And being stuck at home meant you had to find creative new ways to celebrate, which made #DearClassof2020 really blow up.”

Stephen Colbert
“I have no doubt you will be the heroes of so many who have not yet been born. And years from now, if you have the good fortune to hold your own child’s face in your hands and tell them how proud you are of them, you’ll understand how we feel about you right now. And they’ll wonder how you did what you are about to go do.”

Malala Yousafzai
“Don’t be defined by what you’re losing during this crisis, but by how you respond to it.”

 

Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift join YouTube virtual graduation

30th May 2020

Update: This has been moved to 8pm (UK time) on Sunday 7th June to avoid clashing with a George Floyd memorial series

Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift are among the star names joining the Obamas and BTS for YouTube’s virtual graduation event this June.

The event, which was announced earlier this month, is a virtual commencement celebration bringing together inspirational leaders, celebrities, and YouTube creators to celebrate graduates, their families, and their communities.

The ceremony will include commencement addresses delivered by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, with other speeches coming from BTS, Lady Gaga, former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Malala Yousafzai.

Now, things are getting even more star-studded, with Beyoncé delivering an inspiration message, and Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift making guest appearances – alongside Demi Lovato, Janelle Monáe and Billy Porter.

Musical performances peppered throughout the multi-hour even will include Lizzo, Camila Cabello, Chloe x Halle, and Maluma, while BTS will headline the graduation night party.

Other stars set to appear in some capacity include Lana Condor, Kevin Durant, Bill and Melinda Gates, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and HitRecord, Hasan Minhaj, the cast of HBO’s Euphoria and the cast of Riverdale, plus YouTubers Emma Chamberlain, John Green, NikkieTutorials and Mark Rober.

The event will premiere on Saturday 6th June on YouTube and on YouTube’s Learn@Home site, learnathome.withyoutube.com.

 

Dear Class of 2020: The Obamas and BTS join YouTube virtual graduation

7th May 2020

The Obamas and BTS will be joining YouTube at a virtual graduation event this June.

The event, which was announced this week, is a virtual commencement celebration bringing together inspirational leaders, celebrities, and YouTube creators to celebrate graduates, their families, and their communities.

The ceremony will include commencement addresses delivered by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, with other speeches coming from BTS, Lady Gaga, former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Malala Yousafzai.

Dear Class of 2020 also will include special appearances by Alicia Keys, Chloe x Halle, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Zendaya and YouTubers Dude Perfect, Mr. Kate and The Try Guys.

Produced by Done and Dusted, and overseen by YouTube’s head of learning for YouTube Originals, Nadine Zylstra, it will also showcase students and graduates from around the world.

“Graduation is a tradition that students and families look forward to and with the current state of the world, YouTube is lending some inspiration in the form of a virtual commencement,” said Susanne Daniels, global head of content for YouTube, in a statement. “We hope bringing together noteworthy, influential speakers along with performances from some of their favourite artists will provide encouragement for the students who have worked so hard to get here.”

BTS will also perform at a virtual graduates after-party.

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