Ellen DeGeneres' long-awaited ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is finally here—and yes, it's even better than you could ever imagine.
In celebration of the return of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the 56-year-old funnylady invited Anthony Carbajal—who spearheaded the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in January at just 26 years old—to the season 12 premiere of her show where the two doused themselves in freezing cold water to raise awareness for the cause.
"It really did get a lot of attention and it got my attention," DeGeneres tells Anthony of his own YouTube video, which has been viewed over 16 million times. "I was planning on doing it. There was no way that I wasn't doing it and then I saw your video and in the beginning of the video he nominated me. Why did you nominate me?"
Note: We suggest you grab a tissue before you continue.
"Well, our family loves you so much. We really love you Ellen. My mom and I watch the show every day," the Murrieta, Calif.-native replies as tears well up in Ellen's eyes (Anthony's mother also suffers from ALS). "I am a wedding photographer and I edit during the day at least I was a wedding photographer but I would help my Mom during the day and no matter that kind of struggle we felt or went through during the day at 4 o'clock we always watched Ellen and you lifted our spirits. And I know you lift a lot of other people's spirits. And I think you're going to answer it? I don't know. I didn't think I'd sit here in this chair with you but I'm so happy and grateful. This probably is the best of my mom's and I life."
Following the photographer's praise for the comedian (she called his nomination "an honor"), the two marched hand-in-hand to the side of the stage where a cooler of ice water was poured over their heads after Anthony adorable warns, "it's colder than you think."
As for whom Ellen chose to nominate? Beyoncé, as well as Kim Kardashian, who is a guest on the show on Tuesday and already teased her acceptance via Instagram of the viral video challenge.
"Yep this happened on @TheEllenShow Thanks to @SarahJessicaParker @miraduma @olivier_rousteing @GiuseppeZanottiWorld for the nominations #ALSIceBucketChallange," the 33-year-old stunner captioned the shot in which she's snapping a selfie (natch) just prior to being soaked with a bucket full of freezing cold water while wearing some fancy designer duds.
Now there's a video we can't wait to see. You're next, Queen Bey!