What Is The #PuberMe Challenge? Awkward Celebrity Photos Benefit Puerto Rico

Stephen Colbert and Nick Kroll have spawned the most recent viral trend with a philanthropic bent. In an attempt to fundraise for the relief effort in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the comedians announced on “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” they’d be spearheading the #PuberMe challenge.

Colbert and Kroll, the creator of Netflix’s “Big Mouth,” are soliciting celebrities to share awkward photos of themselves at age 13 — a nod to the theme of Kroll’s adult animated series. Colbert, in speaking with Kroll during a guest appearance on his show, offered to make things “interesting” by donating $1,000 for every celebrity photo from his charity AmeriCone Dream Fund to benefit One America Appeal and Puerto Rico relief. Kroll announced that he’d be doing the same.

The challenge, which Colbert plugged multiple times in bits on his late night show last week, has been gaining momentum and has attracted names such as Kristen Bell, Joseph Gordon-Levitt‏ and John Oliver, among others.

Colbert’s charity AmeriCone Dream One America Appeal was founded as a joint effort by five living former U.S. presidents to benefit areas affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Stephen Colbert AmeriCone Dream Fund, an ice cream flavor partnership between Colbert and Ben & Jerry’s, benefits several charitable causes including “food and medical assistance for disadvantaged children, helping veterans and their families, and environmental causes,” according to its website.

“The super uncomfortable photos just keep rolling in,” Colbert said Friday evening on his show. The host shared several photos of celebrities who had already participated, including fellow comedian Jimmy Kimmel, actor Topher Grace, and director Judd Apatow.