Class of 2020 to get a virtual commencement address from Oprah Winfrey on Facebook


The class of 2020 may not get the commencement they were hoping for this year, but at least they'll get Oprah.
Facebook on Tuesday announced it will stream a star-studded virtual graduation ceremony for seniors who are "commencing at a time of great uncertainty" amid the coronavirus pandemic and won't get to have "the day they might have imagined." Winfrey will deliver a commencement address at "#Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020," and the event will also feature Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X, and Simone Biles sharing "words of wisdom," as well as Miley Cyrus performing "The Climb."
Facebook said the event, which will stream on Facebook Watch, will "acknowledge high schools and colleges in the U.S. by name, state by state, including photos and videos of the class of 2020 and messages from deans and principals across the country." This comes after John Krasinski similarly held a virtual prom for high school seniors who had theirs canceled during the pandemic; his YouTube event featured Billie Eilish and the Jonas Brothers among others.
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Facebook's virtual graduation is set for May 15.
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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
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