Graduate who went viral for moonwalking breaks…
He glided through commencement.
Content creator De’Von Jasper went viral for the Michael Jackson-inspired moonwalk he did on stage as he acquired his high college diploma — raking in a jaw-dropping 250 million mixed views in six months.
The Houma, LA, native determined to repost the spectacular 2024 clip as the biopic “Michael” was launched in theaters just in time for commencement season — and it reeled in another 100 million views in a week.
“I believed, ‘Let me just post it again because people need to see this. I want to see everybody else moonwalking across the stage,’” Jasper said of the clip, which Jacko’s official social media accounts shared.
The now-20-year-old told The Post he “knew from the jump” he was going to carry out the stunt on the commencement stage.
Since he’s identified for his dancing, his principal at H. L. Bourgeois High School had a strong suspicion he would, and even put out a basic warning before the big day.
“When we did a graduation practice, she said, ‘No moonwalking across the stage,’ because she knew I was going to do it,” he recalled.
Jasper ignored the warning.
In the viral clip, set to the King of Pop’s music “Billie Jean,” he’s seen overtly placing on a pair of socks — like Jackson did for his signature transfer — before approaching the stage.
De’Von Jasper put on show at his high college commencement by skillfully moonwalking to get his diploma. Courtesy of De’von Jasper
His math instructor utters, “Don’t do it. You better not.”
“You can see the teacher in the video eyeing me down the whole way,” he said. “And I blew her a kiss and said, ‘I’m doing it.’”
After doing a spin transfer, he proceeds to flawlessly moonwalk, then executes two excellent splits before accepting his diploma from his principal.
“Everybody was cheering. And my principal, she saw that split, and she had no choice but to smile,” he said.
The assistant principal who announced each scholar’s identify, also expressed her amazement.
“She said my name, and once I did it, she said, ‘Oh yeah!’”
Jasper even befriended Jackson’s son, Prince, who invited him to a “Thriller” get together. Courtesy of De’von Jasper
At the get together, Jasper met Jackson’s longtime choreographer, Travis Payne. Courtesy of De’von Jasper
Jasper revealed he’s now a good friend of MJ’s son Prince, whom he met through social media.
Prince even invited him to the Jackson home in Encino, CA, for a personal “Thriller”-themed get together, where Jasper met Michael’s longtime choreographer, Travis Payne.
“Prince follows me on Instagram and we hung out twice,” he said. “I asked him a few questions about his dad because I was curious.”
The school scholar, who is majoring in shifting image arts and minoring in dance at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, said he’s prepping to movie more Jackson content.
“Yes, while the movie’s out, this is Michael month.”
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