If you have ever watched the sitcom "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," you know it's a show about misfits - five underachievers running a bar called Paddy's Pub in south Philadelphia. So it's perfectly fitting that one of the show's stars and producers, Rob McElhenney (AKA, Mac), came to the rescue of one of Pennsylvania's real-life "misfits" (according to Bishop McDevitt high school, apparently).
In recent news coverage, you might have heard the name Aniya Wolf, a young woman who was recently kicked out of her prom because she wore a tux and not a dress. According to Aniya's mother, Bishop McDevitt High School sent out a letter right before prom saying that all women must wear dresses. Aniya, who prefers to wear more masculine clothes, decided that she was going to wear the tux anyway. The school's response was to threaten to call the police on Aniya, so she left.
There are so many obvious problems with the entire situation.
One: in today's society, no one should be forced to wear something they feel uncomfortable in; we live in the modern world where it's perfectly acceptable for women to wear pants.
Second: threatening a student with the police because of something as trivial as clothing choices is just plain immature - the police have more important things to worry about.
The saddest part - school officials made Aniya feel that she is "a mistake" and she has to miss out on an experience that many high school students see as a milestone.
Situations like this are unfortunately common, especially in a Catholic school setting, but something special happened that turned Aniya's predicament on its head. Actor Rob McElhenney from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" not only stood up for her on Twitter, as seen below, but he invited her to wear her tux on the show in a guest role for next season.
It's wonderful to see celebrities reaching out to those in the community, but it's amazing to see a celebrity go as far as McElhenney did to make a bad situation right again. What makes it even more great is that "Always Sunny" is the perfect match for Aniya - the cast portraying a group of misfits who never apologize for being themselves.
Also, looking more deeply, the show itself is a critique and commentary on modern day social problems, including anything from race to abortion issues. Particularly with McElhenney's character Mac who (spoiler alert), although devoutly religious and seemingly anti-gay, comes out as gay (kind of) in last season's finale.
Even though the characters on "Always Sunny" don't always act like good people, part of the humor is that they are obliviously flawed and wonderful, realistic characters, McElhenney is a great person for the opportunity he offered Aniya and for being one thing that her high school wasn't: kind.
So Aniya, keep being you and make sure you rock that tux on TV!
