Virtual Graduation 2020: Selena Gomez, Cardi B, Dozens More Join Oprah for Facebook’s Livestream

By Todd Spangler

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Facebook has bumped up the star wattage for this week’s livestreaming “#Graduation2020” virtual commencement festivities.

The social giant announced more than 70 stars — including Selena Gomez, Cardi B, Usher, Matthew McConaughey and TikTok influencer Dixie D’Amelio — will be joining its “#Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020,” a multihour livestreaming event on May 15 starting at 11 a.m. PT.

Facebook’s “#Graduation 2020” will be co-hosted by Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak (of NBC’s “The Office”). As previously announced, the event will feature a commencement address from Oprah Winfrey and a performance by Miley Cyrus of “The Climb.” In addition, the May 15 event will include an introduction by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, along with remarks from Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X and Simone Biles.

The super-sized Facebook and Instagram event for 2020’s graduating seniors is one of several virtual commencement celebrations happening this year amid COVID-19 quarantines. Others include YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020,” which will feature former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama , alongside K-pop superstars BTS, Lady Gaga and more.

Facebook has now unveiled a huge roster of Hollywood, music, sports and internet stars, in a bid to draw a big crowd of grads and well-wishers.

The lineup includes: AdamRayOkay (as Rosa), Amy Schumer, Andy Cohen, AnnaSophia Robb, Antoni Porowski, Ashley Graham, Becky Lynch, Bailey Sok, Bobby Berk, Bretman Rock, Cardi B, Charles Melton, Chiney Ogwumike, Chris Paul, Chrissy Metz, Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster and Grover, Daddy Yankee, Damian Lillard, David Dobrik, David Oyelowo, Desus & Mero, Dillon Francis, Diplo, Dixie D’Amelio, DJ Khaled, Drew McIntyre, Dude Perfect, Emily Ratajkowski, Gloria Estefan, Gordon Ramsay, Hailee Steinfeld, Huda and Mona Kattan, Iliza Shlesinger, Jess and Gabriel Conte, J.J. Watt, Jonathan Van Ness, John Mayer, Joshua Bassett, Julian Edelman, Kandi Burruss, Karamo Brown, Kofi Kingston, Kristen Bell, La La Anthony, Lacy Evans, Lana Condor, Lisa Leslie, Lisa Vanderpump, Lizzy Greene, Luis Fonsi, Luke Bryan, Marlee Matlin, Marshmello, Matthew McConaughey, Milo Ventimiglia, Nick Kroll, Olivia Rodrigo, Ronny Chieng, Roman Reigns, Sasha Banks, Selena Gomez, Sterling K. Brown, Steve Aoki, Sofia Carson, Sofia Wylie, Steve Harvey, The Miz, Tim Tebow, Tori Kelly, Usher, Whitney Cummings, Wilmer Valderrama, Winnie Harlow and Yara Shahidi.

The streaming event will be available on Facebook Watch and facebook.com/facebookapp . Highlights and other content from “#Graduation2020” will be posted to the @instagram account and on contributors’ social accounts.

“Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020” is produced by Industrial Media’s B17 Entertainment, with B17’s Rhett Bachner and Brien Meagher serving as executive producers and Jane Mun as showrunner and executive producer.

Facebook has several other features and resources for this year’s graduates, with more info at classof2020.fb.com . The company is letting users throw virtual graduation ceremonies via Facebook Live; tap into AR effects like include graduation speech filters with customizable tassels and college-themed stoles for the Facebook app, Instagram, and Messenger; stickers and profile frames available in popular school colors; and a curated list of songs for the graduation moments people share to their stories.

Among Facebook’s other 2020 graduation programming, on Friday, May 15, it will debut “Dear Grads, Love Groups,” a film directed by Chris Wilcha, for which community members from Facebook Groups are invited to share congrats with the Class of 2020.

Other events planned for Facebook and Instagram this week leading up to the May 15 livestream:

• May 11
  • Graduation Countdown Sticker: @instagram will feature a graduation sticker via stories to celebrate the global graduation ceremony on May 15. Anyone can reshare from the @instagram story and set a reminder.
  • Graduation #Challenges: @instagram will feature graduation challenges including the throwback #GradPhotoChallenge and the #GradMessagesChallenge, with seniors sharing #MySeniorQuote messages.
  • Student Spotlights: Series honoring outstanding graduates on the Facebook app page and invite the Facebook community to pay tribute to noteworthy grads in their lives.
• May 12
  • Senior Night for Athletes: @instagram will host a virtual senior night dedicated to star athletes including Sabrina Ionescu, Myles Powell, Shay Knighten and Andrew Pryts.
• May 13
  • Senior Comedy Day: An Instagram virtual standup show featuring comedians Quinta Brunson, Cameron J. Henderson and Christine Snaps. Instagram creator Daquan will share an exclusive graduation meme on @instagram and @daquan.
  • Part of Us: Facebook app’s social pages will feature a film directed by Jenn Nkiru of Iconoclast, which gives voice to this year’s graduates as they share excerpts of Marina Keegan’s, “The Opposite of Loneliness” essay with imagery from their school years.
  • #GradWalk2020: Special grad walks from the class of 2020 will be featured on Facebook app Page’s Stories, with others encouraged to share with hashtag #GradWalk2020.
• May 14
  • Superlative Day: Best and brightest students will be honored with featured creators superlatives on @instagram.
  • #Your2020Portrait Art Show: @brooklynmuseum and @design launched a nationwide call-out for portraiture from college students. Five winners will be announced, awarded $5,000 in grants, and appear in a virtual “art show” on @design, @brooklynmuseum and @creators.
  • @creators Graduation Celebration: @creators will feature creators including Bryce Xavier, Nia Sioux and Livvy Dunne and “yearbooks on Instagram.”
  • Gifts for Grads on @shop: Instagram’s @shop will feature a graduation gift guide with products from a handful of shoppable small businesses.