Leon Purvis can’t believe how much buzz his prom invitation to Justin Bieber has generated in the media, especially when — last week — the story got a shout-out from media mogul Ryan Seacrest on his website and show.
“It’s crazy,” said Leon, a 16-year-old Glassboro High School junior who decided to ask his favorite singer, Bieber, to accompany him to his junior prom as a “bro” via YouTube. “It’s been on NBC, Perez Hilton and now Ryan Seacrest. I think it’s definitely hyping people up for Trending Day.”
In order for Leon’s YouTube video to garner more than the 115,850 views it already has — and potentially draw attention from Bieber and his management team — he and his classmates decided it would have to become a trending topic on Twitter. After he presented the idea to his teachers and peers, a committee was formed to promote the topic. If enough people tweet or re-tweet #GuyAsksJustinBieberToPromOnYouTube on the Trending Day — Dec. 27 beginning at 12:10 a.m. — the tweet could become a trending topic and garner more media attention.
“The word’s out there,” said Leon. “If kids can see how much has happened already, they can see what Trending Day could do.”
Leon said he’s confident, but still a little nervous, that his story could make it as one of the top 10 worldwide trending topics that day. He and the committee have been spreading the word to as many people as possible, and he said he’s received a lot of support.
“Most of the response has been positive,” said Leon. “A whole bunch of people have signed the banner, and we have it hanging up now. The online hits have been crazy too, going from 73,000 to 115,000 in a really short time.”
Leon said Seacrest’s recognition could be very important.
“Ryan Seacrest is hosting New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and Justin Bieber is performing, so it’s crazy to think of that,” he said. “Whatever happens, it’s just like Justin Bieber says, follow your dreams and never say never.”
Leon said he and his classmates will continue to spread information of how to tweet and re-tweet the topic on Dec. 27. They already visited the intermediate school to encourage the eighth graders to participate.
“They were excited,” he said. “And a lot of them already knew who I was!”
GHS French teacher Anne-Sophie Kruse, who has been advising Leon’s committee, said she was very surprised, and equally excited as Leon, when the story reached Seacrest.
“To hear him say the name of a student of mine was pretty amazing, pretty surreal,” said Kruse. “That’s what many of the students in school are saying too. To hear him talk about Leon and what he’s trying to do in such a positive way is really outstanding. He’s really respected in the industry, and we’re all surprised it’s gone so far so fast. To see such results before Trending Day means the kids have done a really great job supporting this cause.”
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