Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Justin Timberlake Surprises Super Bowl 'Selfie Kid' Ryan McKenna With a Phone Call on 'Ellen'

Justin Timberlake Surprises Super Bowl 'Selfie Kid' Ryan McKenna With a Phone Call on 'Ellen'
(TheEllenShow/YouTube)

Ryan McKenna, the 13-year-old who forever fumbled with his smartphone to get a selfie with Justin Timberlake during the 2018 Super Bowl Halftime performance, was in for another surprise on Ellen.

"The Selfie Kid," who inspired a meme frenzy, sat down for an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday to discuss his newfound fame after inadvertently becoming part of Timberlake's performance, but he did not expect to share another moment with the "Can't Stop the Feeling" singer.

But this is Ellen. She takes delight in surprising her special guests.


The Patriots fan was already over the moon about attending the Super Bowl, but the added bonus of Timberlake grooving his way down the aisle near McKenna was an ever bigger touchdown moment. A moment he had to archive after forcing his way through the pumped crowd to get closer to the singer. If only he could unlock his phone in time...

Ellen teased, "There's someone on the phone who wants to say hi to you right now..."



Courtesy of the studio speaker phone, Ellen was able to connect Timberlake to his halftime show buddy. The pop star reached out over the airwaves. "Ryan?"

"Oh my God!" McKenna said, on the verge of tears.


"Ryan?"(TheEllenShow/YouTube)

Timberlake followed up by saying, "It's nice to meet you, finally."

After Ellen praised the singer for his Super Bowl performance and thanked him for acknowledging her with a prearranged belly rub signal, she commented on how cool it was that Timberlake went into the stands and took a selfie with Ryan that was "obviously not planned."

But according to Timberlake, he was well aware of what he wanted to do during the song.

I knew I wanted to end the performance with "Can't Stop the Feeling" just because I know how people respond to that song and then, uh, cut to Ryan.

"Ryan becomes, like, part of your performance. He's remembered as much as that amazing performance. Everybody loves Justin and now he's a part of your life. I'm sure he'll send you money," Ellen joked.



Turns out Timberlake did want to offer something for his new friend.

I tell you what I want to do because it was so unexpected that you came down and because all of this has happened, I thought to myself I really wanna meet you properly.
I'm going to be coming to TD Garden on tour to play in Boston. I'd like to invite you and your family to come.

"Ryan, I look forward to meeting you and taking our second selfie together," Timberlake said, as the teen thanked him through tears of joy.

As if things couldn't get any better, the NFL additionally offered McKenna's family four tickets to next season's home Patriots game along with free pre-game field passes.

Can't stop the feeling, indeed.


H/T - EW, YouTube, Twitter, Independent

More from Trending

Screenshots from Priscilla Houliston's TikTok video
@the1870studio/Tiktok

Woman Who Bought An Old Church For Under $40k To Live In Explains How She Did It

It's becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to find a home for those who do not already have one or who are in dire need of an upgrade.

TikToker Priscilla Houliston is here to teach us another way: seeking out old churches and other obscure properties that can be re-zoned as a residential home property.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Hegseth
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Pentagon Just Banned Press Photographers Over 'Unflattering' Photos Of Pete Hegseth—And The Internet Got To Work

The internet reacted exactly as you might expect after the Pentagon announced it would ban some press photographers from briefings about the Iran war due to their "unflattering" photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Here's a silly one, just because.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @italiangirl1130's TikTok video
@italiangirl1130/TikTok

Italian Exchange Student's Reaction To American Host Mom Taking Him To Olive Garden Is An Instant Classic

A joy that not nearly enough people get to have during high school is hosting an international student who comes to visit for either one semester or perhaps even an entire year to experience the world and the educational system from another country.

Tiktoker Rhonda, who goes by @italiangirl1130 on the platform, currently has the pleasure of hosting Alessandro, and her family has already filmed a variety of antics on the platform, trying to give the teen the best American experience they can.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @ali.fragster, @pluto_theservicedog, and @thatflippingagent's TikTok videos
@ali.fragster/TikTok; @pluto_theservicedog/TikTok: @thatflippingagent/TikTok

Woman's Video Shooing Kid At Disneyland Away From Her Service Dog Sparks Heated Debate

A massive debate has taken over TikTok about who needs to be protected, children or service dogs or both, and it all started with a video taken at Disneyland.

TikToker @pluto_theservicedog frequently posts videos of her travels with her service dog, Pluto, and she also creates informative videos about how the general public should interact with service dogs.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hudson Williams (left) and François Arnaud (right)
Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty Images; Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

'Heated Rivalry' Stars Call Out The Show's Toxic Fans And Their 'Hateful Love' With Blunt Statement

Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and François Arnaud took to social media to call out hateful comments from some of the show’s fans.

Both Williams, who plays Shane Hollander in the series, and Arnaud, who plays Scott Hunter, have recently been the targets of a wave of hostile online commentary. Their message addressed viewers who were trying to pit the actors and other cast members against one another.

Keep ReadingShow less