We all have awkward photos from our youth. No matter who you are, it’s impossible to escape puberty’s wrath. Celebrities, with their lives on display, know this all too well. But now, they are now casting aside any embarrassment for a good cause. After Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, comedians Stephen Colbert and Nick Kroll came up with an ingenious way to raise money for the U.S. territory—#PuberMe. They’ve set up a hashtag challenge for our favorite celebrities to share pictures of their braces, bad haircuts, and unfortunate outfit choices from long ago. Each humiliating photo earns a donation towards relief in Puerto Rico.
The idea came about organically during a recent episode on Colbert’s show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Kroll was there promoting his new animated Netflix series Big Mouth, which also tackles the universal topic of pubescent teen years. “That time is so awkward [and] I think there's catharsis in sort of showing who we were and what we became,” Kroll laments. Colbert encouraged celebrities to also show their less-than-glamorous shots, adding that it’d help those who need our help.
So, how does #PuberMe work? It’s simple—a fact that's allowed it to easily go viral. For each celebrity who shares (on social media) a picture with that hashtag as well as #PuertoRicoRelief, Colbert will donate $1,000 from his AmeriCone Dream Ice Cream Fund and Kroll will match it, too. All money raised will go to One America Appeal, a charity started by all five living former U.S. presidents that helps with hurricane relief.
Check out some of the best awkward photos below!
Comedians Nick Kroll and Stephen Colbert are raising money for Puerto Rico, which has been ravaged by Hurricane Maria.
Stephen Colbert
Nick Kroll asked me to post a pic of my awkward stage, but I never had one. So here's me lookin' cool as hell! #PuberMe #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/UC9a7XtjZa
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) September 28, 2017
Nick Kroll
Thank you Stephen. In return, here's me trying to look like a tough guy because I hadn't yet hit #puberme. #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/WAzZ6kk6qb
— nick kroll (@nickkroll) September 28, 2017
For every celebrity that shares an awkward photo of themselves from their youth, Kroll and Colbert will each donate $1,000.
Jack Black
It's part of a brilliant campaign called #PuberMe.
Jimmy Kimmel
Hey @NickKroll & @StephenAtHome here’s a photo of me from earlier today #PuberMe #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/TELUdYH43d
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) September 28, 2017
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Sarah Silverman
Yo ma mensches @nickkroll & @StephenAtHome here's some sweet awkward #Puberme for #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/y4JrPr7ekf
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) September 28, 2017
Lindsay Sloane
Ruby Rose
John Oliver
Hey, @StephenAtHome, for your #PuberMe #PuertoRicoRelief effort, I give you…the nuclear option… pic.twitter.com/0QhZYD4REU
— John Oliver (@iamjohnoliver) September 29, 2017
Conan O'Brien
Hey @nickkroll and @StephenAtHome, this photo was taken the day I replaced
David Letterman. #PuberMe #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/J1013j4rbr— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) September 29, 2017
Kristen Bell
Late to the game but never tardy to a party, here you go @StephenAtHome and @nickkroll – #PuberMe #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/BJMeJ6DgU4
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) October 1, 2017
Lin-Manuel Miranda
I've been waiting all my life for this call.https://t.co/pxx7qvHPdf#Puberme #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/nBJSzjrDfO
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 28, 2017
Andy Cohen
Hey @nickkroll @stephenathome – wanna fight?? #PuberMe #PuertoRicoRelief #1983 pic.twitter.com/3jAknUYp0I
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) September 29, 2017
Josh Gad
Alright @nickkroll and @StephenAtHome here’s my sexy awkward middle school phase #PuberMe pic for #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/JYYIXwDXzT
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) September 28, 2017
America Ferrera
I'll show you my awkward self for #PuertoRicoRelief @nickkroll @StephenAtHome #PuberMe #GottaKickItUp #17 pic.twitter.com/XX4HJz8jIA
— America Ferrera (@AmericaFerrera) September 28, 2017
Ryan Seacrest
Found this in the Connie Seacrest archives under “awkward phase” #puberme #puertoricorelief pic.twitter.com/29xGMMygpz
— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) September 29, 2017
Patton Oswald
If it’ll help #PuertoRicoRelief I’ll happily #PuberMe, but all my adolescent pics are 100% awesome: pic.twitter.com/VngrzRrlzu
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 29, 2017
Kumail Nanjiani
I my defense, I knew looked horrible. #PuberMe #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/7wo2m9PIhE
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) September 28, 2017
James Corden
Hello ladies…. and @nickkroll and @StephenAtHome, I'm James from High Wycombe, England. #PuberMe #PuertoRicoRelief pic.twitter.com/usuL9lH9GJ
— James Corden (@JKCorden) September 28, 2017
