Twitter/Getty ImagesAll Sean wanted to do was dance.
Several days ago, Los Angeles resident Cassandra Fairbanks was horrified to discover a particularly mean-spirited post on the image message board 4chan—a person had posted two pictures of the man, a London resident, dancing at a club, along with a snide caption: "Spotted this specimen trying to dance the other week. He stopped when he saw us laughing."
Fairbanks, a writer for The Free Thought Project and members of an LA group of women called the Coconut Oil Friendship Club, posted a screenshot of the fat-shaming post on her Twitter account, which has more than 51,000 followers.
"Anyone know this man or who posted this?" she asked. There's a huge group of ladies in LA who would like to do something special."
She and supporters began promoting the hashtag #FindDancingMan to try to locate the man who was body-shamed.
Anyone know this man or who posted this? There's a huge group of ladies in LA who would like to do something special pic.twitter.com/DGbu3AXOrB
? Cassandra (@CassandraRules) March 5, 2015Her group extended an invitation to throw him a dance party. A fundraising page for the bash was set up and more than $33,000—well past its $20,000 goal—has already been donated as of Sunday.
#FindDancingMan Help us find this dude with the moves! Let's do this, ladies! pic.twitter.com/JvBIkpIxdi
? TheElleWord (@TheElleWord) March 6, 2015Body shaming is awful & people hide behind social media. Help me and my 2,000 girlfriends #FindDancingMan #dancefree pic.twitter.com/i5iGXYKEwe
? Hope Leigh (@HOPELEIGHMUSIC) March 6, 2015Sean later surfaced online—he opened a Twitter account under the username @Dancingmanfound, where he has already collected more than 57,000 followers as of Sunday.
"At 3:11 am, Dancing Man, whose real name is actually Sean, accepted our invitation," Fairbanks wrote on The Free Thought Project's website.
@CassandraRules @MaxTaucer #finddancingman
Cassandra just seen invite and would love to join you in LA for a dance off!!
? Dancing Man (@Dancingmanfound) March 6, 2015"Big thanks to all who have tweeted such kind words. Not stopped smiling and laughing," he tweeted on Friday.
"Massive thanks to all and what a party in waiting !!! Completely overwhelmed," he added.
Meanwhile, Pharrell Williams and Moby are interested in taking part in the party!
"I offer my dj services for free for #DancingMan #DancingManFound #FindDancingMan," Moby tweeted on Friday. "No one should ever be ashamed about dancing."
Hey @CassandraRules keep me posted about your dance party! @Dancingmanfound, never be ashamed of yourself. You are both truly #OTHER??
? Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) March 6, 2015? Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) March 6, 2015
@Pharrell @CassandraRules Thanks for the interest and the tweet. Today is a day I have never imagined would happen
? Dancing Man (@Dancingmanfound) March 6, 2015Ellie Goulding also wants to perform and she and Cher Lloyd both want to dance with Sean!
I want to dance with #dancingman and play at the party.
? Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) March 8, 2015I wanna dance with @Dancingmanfound !!!!! ??
? Cher Lloyd (@CherLloyd) March 7, 2015Other celebs, such as Susan Sarandon, have also expressed support for Sean.
Hey @Dancingmanfound, dancing is a basic human right & I applaud your spirit. Dancing in my kitchen with you now. #DanceLikeNobodysWatching
? Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) March 7, 2015"We must never forget to dance"- Haing S. Ngor, 1989
@Dancingmanfound
? Dana Delany (@DanaDelany) March 7, 2015The LA Coliseum has agreed to host the party.
@CassandraRules @Dancingmanfound @Pharrell we would love to donate the "worlds greatest stadium" for the worlds greatest dance party!
? LA Memorial Coliseum (@lacoliseum) March 7, 2015...and the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board wants to cover Sean's travel expenses.
@CassandraRules a party @lacoliseum for @Dancingmanfound w/ @Pharrell & @thelittleidiot is the perfect #LAstory. We?ll cover his travel!
? discoverLA (@discoverLA) March 8, 2015Just woke up to be greeted with so many more kind words. Big thanks again and am sure the charity will appreciate it as well. Thanks again
? Dancing Man (@Dancingmanfound) March 7, 2015