Medal of Freedom Recipients Stage a Mannequin Challenge at the White House
See photos from inside the event.
— -- This may be the best mannequin challenge yet.
Before the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony got underway this afternoon at the White House, a few of this year's recipients got together to participate in the video project, which "Black-ish" star Tracee Ellis Ross shared on Instagram.
Ross is attending the ceremony because her mother, Diana Ross, is being recognized.
"Look what I got everyone to do! I'm in the pink dress laughing with Rita! It’s the #MannequinChallenge, Presidential Medal of Freedom Edition at the @WhiteHouse!!" she wrote. "Starring #RobertDeNiro, @RitaWilson, @TheEllenShow, @KareemAbdulJabbar_33, @TomHanks, #BillGates, #MichaelJordan, @FrankGehry, my mama #DianaRoss, and more!"
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor, and this year, President Barack Obama awarded it to 21 people, including Cicely Tyson, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Ellen DeGeneres and Bill and Melinda Gates.
In a statement, the president said the award is "a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better."