Saturday, 7 March 2015

#Dancing Man: Pharrell says he'll play at party with 1,700 women for man who was tracked down on Twitter after being body-shamed by bullies

That should make the Dancing Man happy: Pharrell says he'll play at party with 1,700 women for man who was tracked down on Twitter after being body-shamed by bullies


  • Pharrell Williams, Moby and Andrew W.K all want to perform at the party 
  • Dancing Man humiliated by bullies who posted two photos of him online
  • In one image, he was seen dancing enthusiastically to music at concert
  • In other, he was bowing head, ashamed, after the bullies laughed at him
  • 'Spotted this specimen trying to dance the other week,' cameraman said
  • Images, initially posted to 4chan, were spotted by Cassandra Fairbanks
  • She tweeted them on Thursday, asking users to help her to identify man
  • On Friday morning, he was successfully identified as Sean from London
  • Now, he has been sent VIP invite to dance party in LA with 1,727 women
Musical superstars have offered to perform at a VIP party being organised for the man who was ridiculed for dancing in public - where he will be surrounded by thousands of beautiful women.
Pharrell Williams, Moby and Andrew W.K have all lent their support to the Londoner known affectionately as Dancing Man by telling him not to be ashamed to dance.
Two photos of him were posted online with the caption: 'Spotted this specimen trying to dance the other week. He stopped when he saw us laughing.'
The man who was pictured happily dancing in one shot - and bowing his head in apparent humiliation and dejection in the other - was tracked down thanks to a social media campaign.
The music lover who is named Sean and lives in London was identified after upset Twitter user Cassandra Fairbanks, from California, spotted the photos and asked other users to help find him.
The Free Thought Project activist manage located him within hours and 2,000 other women have now invited him to a huge party in Los Angeles where it is believed he will be the only man.
Pharrell, who has had number one hits with Blurred Lines and Happy, asked Cassandra to keep him informed about the party and tweeted to Sean: 'Never be ashamed of yourself.'
The same warm sentiment was offered by Moby - real named Richard Melville Hall - who offered his DJ services for free. 
Nasty: Sean, of London, became known as the Dancing Man after these two photos of him were posted online with the caption: 'Spotted this specimen trying to dance the other week. He stopped when he saw us laughing'
Nasty: Sean, of London, became known as the Dancing Man after these two photos of him were posted online with the caption: 'Spotted this specimen trying to dance the other week. He stopped when he saw us laughing'
Outraged: The post was later screenshot and posted on Imgur , where it attracted the attention of thousands of social media users, including Cassandra Fairbanks (above), who said she was 'horrified' by its 'cruel' nature
Outraged: The post was later screenshot and posted on Imgur , where it attracted the attention of thousands of social media users, including Cassandra Fairbanks (above), who said she was 'horrified' by its 'cruel' nature
Success! After launching a Twitter campaign, The Free Thought Project activist manage to locate Sean within hours. Above, Sean posted a photo of himself holding up a sign reading: 'Hi Cass & Twitter (as requested!)'
Success! After launching a Twitter campaign, The Free Thought Project activist manage to locate Sean within hours. Above, Sean posted a photo of himself holding up a sign reading: 'Hi Cass & Twitter (as requested!)'
Support: Some of the biggest names in music including Pharrell Williams (left) and Moby (right) have Tweeted to say they will perform at the event
Support: Some of the biggest names in music including Pharrell Williams (left) and Moby (right) have Tweeted to say they will perform at the event
Superstars: Some of the biggest names in music including Pharrell Williams (left) and Moby (right) have Tweeted to say they will perform at the event
Star support: Both Pharrell and Moby told Dancing Man not to be ashamed to dance as they posted their support for Sean on Twitter
Star support: Both Pharrell and Moby told Dancing Man not to be ashamed to dance as they posted their support for Sean on Twitter
The success of Ms Fairbanks's tweet and the subsequent party invite has touched the hearts of people across the world, with many social media users deeming the story 'amazing' and tear-jerking.
Sean was first pictured dancing enthusiastically at what appeared to be a concert last month. But after the bullying cameraman and his friend started laughing at him, he bowed his head in shame.
The bullies later uploaded the two, contrasting photos of Sean to the anonymous message board, 4chan, alongside the nasty message labeling him a 'specimen' and criticizing his carefree dancing.
The post was then screenshot and posted on Imgur, where it attracted the attention of thousands of social media users, including Ms Fairbanks, who said she was 'horrified' by its 'cruel' nature.
On Thursday evening, she uploaded the post her Twitter page, writing: 'Anyone know this man or who posted this? There's a huge group of ladies in LA who would like to do something special.'
Ms Fairbanks's tweet was quickly circulated on the social network, with thousands of users joining in her efforts to track down the Dancing Man. Before long, the hashtag #finddancingman went viral.
Party plans: Now, Ms Fairbanks and nearly 2,000 other women have invited Sean to a huge VIP dance party in Los Angeles, California. There he will be joined by 'the coolest and most awesome ladies', Ms Fairbanks said
Party plans: Now, Ms Fairbanks and nearly 2,000 other women have invited Sean to a huge VIP dance party in Los Angeles, California. There he will be joined by 'the coolest and most awesome ladies', Ms Fairbanks said
Formal invite: On Thursday night, the hashtag #finddancingman went viral. Ms Fairbanks's group even issued a formal, blue-colored invitation to the dance party to Sean. Part of it read: 'We want to see you dance freely'
Formal invite: On Thursday night, the hashtag #finddancingman went viral. Ms Fairbanks's group even issued a formal, blue-colored invitation to the dance party to Sean. Part of it read: 'We want to see you dance freely'
Searching: Other members of the group  joined in with efforts to identify Sean. Casey Horan wrote: 'We want to throw him a huge dance party with tons of beautiful babes.' Another said: 'Help me and my 2,000 girlfriends'
Searching: Other members of the group joined in with efforts to identify Sean. Casey Horan wrote: 'We want to throw him a huge dance party with tons of beautiful babes.' Another said: 'Help me and my 2,000 girlfriends'
Appeal: Syndney Ladd wrote: 'Does anyone know who this man is,' adding she wanted to invite him to a party
Appeal: Syndney Ladd wrote: 'Does anyone know who this man is,' adding she wanted to invite him to a party
Deserving man: Jocelyn Aspa said she hoped Sean was tracked down and 'gets the dance party he deserves'
Deserving man: Jocelyn Aspa said she hoped Sean was tracked down and 'gets the dance party he deserves'
In a later tweet, Ms Fairbanks said of her group of 1,727 women: 'We would like to fly him to LA for a VIP dance party with the coolest and most awesome ladies in la, please help...'
Other members of her group then joined in. Casey Horan wrote: 'We want to throw him a huge dance party with tons of beautiful babes.' Another pleaded: 'Help me and my 2,000 girlfriends.'
The group even issued a formal, blue-colored invitation to the dance party to Sean. Part of it read: 'We want to see you dance freely and if you would have us, we would love to dance with you.'
In a post she wrote on The Free Thought Project's site, Ms Fairbanks explained that she and a few other women were 'concerned the photo spreading further could cause embarrassment for Sean'.
'Kind-hearted gesture': Although the group were concerned of embarrassing Sean by tweeting the photos, they decided that the benefits of successfully locating and standing up for the Dancing Man outweighed the risks
'Kind-hearted gesture': Although the group were concerned of embarrassing Sean by tweeting the photos, they decided that the benefits of successfully locating and standing up for the Dancing Man outweighed the risks
Supporting Sean: Emma Roid tweeted to Sean: 'If you see this, we want you to know that we've got your back'
Supporting Sean: Emma Roid tweeted to Sean: 'If you see this, we want you to know that we've got your back'
More support: Another user, with the handle @tinypants', said she hoped someone on Twitter could identify Sean - before his name was revealed. 'Half the Internet wants to give him a hug,' she wrote, using the hashtag
More support: Another user, with the handle @tinypants', said she hoped someone on Twitter could identify Sean - before his name was revealed. 'Half the Internet wants to give him a hug,' she wrote, using the hashtag
Fellow dancing enthusiast: Charlie Heapy added: 'We need to #FindDancingMan and have a big dancing party!'
Fellow dancing enthusiast: Charlie Heapy added: 'We need to #FindDancingMan and have a big dancing party!'
But eventually, they decided that the benefits of successfully locating and standing up for Sean - 'bringing some positivity to such an upsetting situation' - outweighed the risks, she wrote. 
In the early hours of Friday morning, Ms Fairbanks received a photo of a man who looked like the Dancing Man - and was wearing the same wristband - posing next Arsenal football team's emblem.
And just hours later, the Dancing Man himself set up a Twitter account to reply to Ms Fairbanks - and posted a photo of himself holding up a sign reading: 'Hi Cass & Twitter (as requested!).'
After confirming Sean's identity and discovering he lives in London, Ms Fairbanks posted: 'YAY TWITTER!!! @Dancingmanfound #FindDancingMan. We are going to dance!!!'
'Lucky': In the early hours of Friday, CassCams Models noted that Sean would soon be a very 'lucky bloke'
'Lucky': In the early hours of Friday, CassCams Models noted that Sean would soon be a very 'lucky bloke'
It's him! At around the same time, Ms Fairbanks received a photo of a man who looked like the Dancing Man - and was wearing the same wristband - posing next Arsenal football team's emblem in London (pictured)
It's him! At around the same time, Ms Fairbanks received a photo of a man who looked like the Dancing Man - and was wearing the same wristband - posing next Arsenal football team's emblem in London (pictured)
Crying with happiness: A user named Kendall reacted positively to the news that the man had been identified
Crying with happiness: A user named Kendall reacted positively to the news that the man had been identified
Emotional: Katherine Bayley said the Dancing Man story had 'made me cry', adding: 'People are so nasty'
Emotional: Katherine Bayley said the Dancing Man story had 'made me cry', adding: 'People are so nasty'
Social media users responded in a similar fashion. Twitter user Naomi Foster wrote: 'The dancing man story has made my day couldn't stop crying at that picture. glad it's a happy ending for him.'
Nick Lavallee, a comedian from Manchester, New Hampshire, tweeted: '@Dancingmanfound @CassandraRules this is the best thing I've read in awhile. Have fun dancing with the hot babes!'
And a user named Jessica said: 'Sooooo happy the dancing man has been found.'
On Friday, a GoFundMe page was set up by the 1,727 women, who are all part of the Coconut Oil Friendship Club, to raise money to fly Sean to Los Angeles for 'a dance party of a lifetime'.
'Not stopped smiling or laughing': The Dancing Man himself set up a Twitter account to reply to Ms Fairbanks
'Not stopped smiling or laughing': The Dancing Man himself set up a Twitter account to reply to Ms Fairbanks
Raising money by the minute: On Friday, a GoFundMe page was set up by the 1,727 women, who are all part of the Coconut Oil Friendship Club, to raise money to fly Sean to Los Angeles for 'a dance party of a lifetime'
Raising money by the minute: On Friday, a GoFundMe page was set up by the 1,727 women, who are all part of the Coconut Oil Friendship Club, to raise money to fly Sean to Los Angeles for 'a dance party of a lifetime'
As of 2pm on Friday, it had raised a staggering $3,906 - with donations as high as $150 coming in by the minute. Any additional donations will be given to an anti-bullying campaign.
And what does Sean have to say about the all-women VIP dance party? Well, he told Ms Fairbanks that he is currently in Kiev for two weeks - but is free when he returns, according to Buzzfeed
'[He] is always ready for an adventure,' Ms Fairbanks said.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2984032/That-make-Dancing-Man-happy-Pharrell-says-ll-play-party-1-700-women-man-tracked-Twitter-body-shamed-bullies.html#ixzz3Tj3zLHsS
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