Celebrities are coming together to honor the class of 2020 and the millions of seniors whose graduation ceremonies were canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Yesterday, Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Oprah Winfrey, and more celebrated in a virtual event dubbed #Graduation2020.
The multi-hour event on Friday was hosted on Facebook by The Office co-stars Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak, and featured an inspiring commencement speech from Oprah.
“You are, indeed, the chosen class for such a time as this, the Class of 2020. You’re also a united class, the pandemic class, that has the entire world striving to graduate with you,” Oprah said. “But even though there may not be pomp because of our circumstances, never has a graduating class been called to step into the future with more purpose, vision, passion and energy and hope. Your graduation ceremony is taking place with so many luminaries celebrating you on the world’s Facebook stage, and I’m just honored to join them and salute you.”
You can watch her full speech below.
Cardi B also had a motivational message for graduates. “I just want to say congrats to all my high school and to all my college graduates. Congrats congrats congrats!” the rapper said in her video. “And don’t let no coronavirus, no nothing, take this special moment from you. I also want to tell you guys it’s more than a diploma, it’s more than graduation, it’s knowledge, it’s knowing that you did it. Now you’re about to start your life, you’re about to make some money, you’re about to show your skills on what you worked for!”
The ceremony also featured appearances and motivational messages from DJ Khaled, Miley Cyrus, Yara Shahidi, John Mayer, and Selena Gomez. Stream the ceremony in full below.