Quirky Teen Goes Viral for Bringing Cardboard Cutout of Danny DeVito to Prom, Proves Being Yourself is Always Worth It
Allison Closs isn’t your typical high-schooler. The 17-year-old senior from Carlisle, Pennsylvania proudly dances to her own tune, quite literally.
As prom was getting closer and she couldn’t find a suitable date, Closs decided to buy herself a date. And who better than all-around funny guy and Hollywood legend Danny DeVito?
Closs went on Amazon to look for a perfect celebrity date and stumbled across a veritable bounty of Danny DeVito cardboard cutouts, ready to ship. Although she considered other celebrities like internet sweetheart Bill Nye the Science Guy, they would have required special orders, and she told the New York Post “I’m not about that money life, if you know what I mean.”
So Closs didn’t think twice about dropping the $100 for cardboard DeVito. When her date arrived, the Carlisle High senior taped the cutout to a cheap plastic scooter and dressed him up in a tie borrowed from her brother. To complete the prom look, her date also got a boutonniere and, just to make things easier, a leash to pull him along.
Rolling up to prom, Closs and her date had a celebrity welcome. Other than a few friends and family, nobody knew who her date was, but as a true A-lister couple, the pair got the real celebrity treatment, with other prom-goers lining up for selfies.
“My mom was a little skeptical, [and] my friend thought the concept was amusing. But to be honest, I don’t think they thought I was actually going to go through with,” she told the New York Post.
Prom was a complete success and according to Closs, DeVito was a perfect gentleman – and far less of a hassle than a real date.
“Making things work with a human date can be so exhausting. Danny’s not like that. He just goes with the flow… We never argue, never fight. Plus, he treats me the way a woman should be treated,” she joked with the New York Post.
Her story, of course, went viral, and the Gettysburg College hopeful got plenty of social media shoutouts. And then, something magical happened. Rob McElhenney, DeVito’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadeplhia co-star came across the story and reached out to Closs on social media with some truly fantastic news.
DeVito himself had seen the story and thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, the 73-year-old Hollywood legend loved Closs’ idea so much, he decided to copy it, taking a cardboard cutout of Allison to the hit comedy series’ iconic Paddy’s Pub. Closs was of course beyond happy, sharing her excitement on social media: “I feel more honored and lucky now than ever!”
