LeBron James is backing a prime-time event to honor the high school class of 2020 next month.
His LeBron James Family Foundation is partnering with the XQ Institute and the Entertainment Institute Foundation to present "Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020," airing across a slew of television and online platforms on May 16.
The special, which will feature the Los Angeles Lakers' All-Star, Nobel prize winner Malala Yousafzai, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, and musical acts Bad Bunny, the Jonas Brothers, Pharrell Williams and others will be simulcast across ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC as well as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok and other streaming services.
LeBron said, "It's been a hard few months for all of us, but I especially really feel for the senior class of 2020. The end of high school and graduation was one of the best memories of my life. It's not fair. Every graduating senior needs to know how much we feel for them and hopefully this can help, even a little. This class is going to be special because they know in a real way how to persevere."
The coronavirus pandemic has caused schools across the country to close and cancel graduation ceremonies in keeping with social distancing orders.
The show will be filled with commencement addresses, celebrity cameos and video vignettes honoring the estimated 3 million high school seniors whose graduation experience is being impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
The commercial-free program has also received commitments from Yara Shahidi, H.E.R., Lena Waithe, Ben Platt, Henry Platt, Jonah Platt, Charli D'Amelio, Dixie D'Amelio, Chika, YBN Cordae and Loren Gray to appear on the presentation.
