Justin Timberlake is a man of his word!
On Saturday, the 30-year-old singer-actor attended the Marine Corps Ball with Corporal Kelsey De Santis in Richmond, VA.
He wrote on his website that the event "turned out to be one of the most moving evenings I've ever had."
As for De Santis? "She seemed to be so humble and honest… Very cool," he wrote. "She also simultaneously seemed like she was nervous about the whole evening and if I was going to enjoy myself…I have to tell you, it's not every day that I meet a 23 year old girl and she's more worried about if I'm having fun or if I'm comfortable! It hit me all of a sudden that these were the type of people that look after us and our freedom… Humble, concerned for others before themselves… This was the type of person our Marine Corps was building. I was really blown away."
A video montage of Pearl Harbor, World War II and the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks "almost brought [Timberlake] to tears." He wrote that it was "a surreal moment to be in that room with so many of our great Marines who have such a different type of connection to those stories."
How did Timberlake end up at the ball? In July, his Friends with Benefits costar Mila Kunis was first invited to the Nov. 18 Marine Corps Ball in Greenville, NC by Sergeant Scott Moore. The marine made a YouTube video asking Kunis, 28, to be his date to the fete.
After Timberlake encouraged Kunis to accept Moore's invitation, De Santis followed suit, also inviting the In Time star to a Marine Corps ball via YouTube. "If you can't go," De Santis said in the clip. "All I have to say is cry me a river! Hit me up."
When asked at a Cancun press conference this summer whether he intended to attend the ball, Timberlake said yes. "But not because she shouted out one of my songs, which I do love," he said. "And not because she had all those beefcake military guys behind her to try to intimidate me — although that probably would have worked by itself. I don't get asked out ever! So I was very flattered by that."
Timberlake wrote that he was "proud to be [at the Corps Ball]" and "felt like I was getting a chance to be among my heroes. It's funny too because a lot of them are SO younger than me."
"I've met so many of my heroes — from Michael Jordan to Michael Jackson — and nothing makes me feel more honor and pride than when I get to meet one of you," Timberlake added, referring to those who serve. "Last night changed my life and I will never forget it."
