Image Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Forget the Oscars: the Marine Corps Ball has quickly turned into this year’s A-list event. Now that Friends With Benefits co-stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake have both said yes to the Marines who invited them to the dance, word has clearly gotten around: If you ask a celebrity out on YouTube, they will go with you. Which is exactly what Sgt. Ray Lewis (like the football player!) did by asking Betty White to attend the Ball with him. His reasons for asking the lovable Hot in Cleveland star were certainly justified (“She’s funny, she’s sweet, she’s mature. She’s the all-around perfect woman”), but even with a two-minute vid, he didn’t give it quite the same pizazz that Sgt. Scott Moore (Kunis’ date) and Sgt. Kelsey De Santis (Timberlake’s date) did with their posts. (C’mon, Betty deserves more than a, “So… call me”!) Still, you have to wonder, who will be the first star that’s going to say no? Somebody sort of has to at some point, right? Or, will celebrities soon be making video pleas to the marines asking them out?
UPDATE: Betty White released a statement regarding Sgt. Ray Lewis’ request which read, “I am deeply flattered and truly appreciate the invitation, as everyone knows I love a man in uniform, but unfortunately I cannot accept, as I will be taping an episode of Hot In Cleveland. Love, Betty White.”
Who do you think will be the next star asked to attend the Marines Corps Ball, PopWatchers? My money’s on Jon Hamm. (In other news, I just joined the Marines in order to ask Jon Hamm to the ball!) Watch the full clip of Sgt. Ray Lewis’ date request to Betty White below:
Read more:
Justin Timberlake says ‘yes’ to the Marine Corps Ball. He might go!
Mila Kunis IS attending the Marine Corps Ball after all. National crisis averted.
Betty White teaches David Letterman how to be Betty White
Well Betty White is awesome in my book. And I think if Betty White wants to go, she’ll go. She has a lot of “Star Power”! She is the bomb.
What would be really interesting is if a male Marine asks a guy to the Ball. Or a female Marine asks a woman to the Ball. By that time, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” should be history. But given it is the Marines I highly highly highly doubt this will happen–in the next 5 years. If ever.
given that it is the Marines
The marines have been at the forefront of gayness for many decades. Read “Goodbyw Darkness”
Celebrities, don’t be afraid to tell these a-holes “no!” We won’t think any less of you.
Really?! What a loser comment, sounds like you took precious time between B – hits and Wii to type that up
While I strongly disagree with the use of “a-holes” to describe United States Marines, I agree with what you say about celebrities not being afraid to say no. No one should feel pressured into a date, whether serious or for fun; that’s why these Marines are ASKING, and that’s why little white lies were invented. That said, celebrities are not some higher species, you know. They’re just people with average-to-above-average looks and craptons of money…but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t enjoy hanging out with some Marines. Military men can be a TON of fun, and yet also unfailingly polite (at least in my experience). I would think that anyone who goes to the Marine Corps Ball would have a great time, and I hope anyone who gets the opportunity to go does so.
Well said, Kat. I don’t think any of these soldiers expected the celebrities to say yes. But what a wonderful way to say thank to the troops by going. if you have the time, celebrities work too.
To be fair, a-holes can love and defend their country just like anyone else. USMC and a-holes aren’t mutually exclusive, as evidenced by any weekend spent in Oceanside CA.
That’s some tough talk, Anal Crapra.
Clever
You know somebody asked Oprah to this Marine Ball. I hope the guy asked stedman 1st…Lol. I bet Oprah will be the 1st Celeb to say, “Thanks, but no Thanks.” She doesn’t need the publicity.
Cute video with adorably amateur editing/staging. I bet Ray Lewis is just as fun as he claims to be. I love that he switched to his dress uniform and held up a rose for the actual asking-out portion of the video. That’s so sweet.
At first this was amusing and was great that Mila said yes, however, after asking Justin it started to get a little hokey because now someone has to be the jerk to say no and while I hope Betty White isn’t that jerk the originality is gone and now the Marine Ball is likely going to be filled with celeb dates because no one wants to say no to a soldier. Just remember soldiers, these people you are asking campaign for politicians who say you should be paid even less and less, remember these people make boat loads of money for drinking a can of soda on film, they aren’t going for you they are going for the publicity so yeah first celeb to ask a marine to ask them will be either Bieber or Gaga… oh wait no I’m sure Perez Hilton will want an invite
Well, if we want to generalize let’s be fair and point out that most of Hollywood endorses Democrats and they’re not the ones who vote down veteran benefits.
Don’t do it Betty.
Access Hollywood
89-year-old actress has had to decline.
“I am deeply flattered and truly appreciate the invitation, as everyone knows I love a man in uniform… but unfortunately I cannot accept, as I will be taping an episode of ‘Hot In Cleveland,” White said in a statement to Access Hollywood.
She signed her statement, “Love, Betty White.”
Betty White hates black people.
I think the powers that be at Hot in Cleveland could change the taping day for this special event so that Betty can attend…better yet, turn this into an episode for Hot in Cleveland and have all four girls go! After all, these men and women sacrifice ALOT so that we can all have our freedom…it’s only one night.
As a United States Marine myself I
personally don’t like how they went
overboard with this. It bad enough
we get painted as the bad guys time after time. I am just hoping the Marines act like the professionals we are suppossed to be. A specially for the ones who have celebrities attending their Marine Corps Ball.