CELEBRITIES

Emma Stone turns down 'promposal' in the sweetest way

Randy Cordova

The Republic | azcentral.com

You know where Emma Stone and Jordin Sparks got their starts: The stars are two of many in recent years who trained at Valley Youth Theatre, a local company based downtown. Stone went on to act in movies including "Superbad" and "The Help." Sparks launched her career by winning the sixth season of American Idol.

She said no.

Emma Stone regretfully will not be going to the prom with an Arcadia High School student.

Jacob Staudenmaier, a 17-year-old junior with a bit of a Ryan Gosling vibe, attempted to woo the actress with a creative recreation of the opening scene in "La La Land." You know: Dancing, cars, the whole bit. His video went viral, getting tweeted more than 20,000 times and earning the budding filmmaker a guest spot on "Good Morning America."

That's where he revealed on Friday that the flame-haired Oscar winner turned him down. But, in the sweetest way possible.

"Thanks for making the greatest proposal I've ever received," Stone wrote in a letter, according to Staudenmaier. "I can't tell you what an honor that was and how much I smiled through that entire beautifully orchestrated video. I'm in London working, but I hope you have the best time at prom, and I'm grateful you thought of me. THANK YOU. P.S. I do see Gosling around the eyes. Love, Emm."

MORE:Emma Stone visits Valley Youth Theatre, talks Phoenix roots on CBS profile

"I thought it was great," Staudenmaier said on Friday in a phone call. "It was short, but it was fantastic that she even acknowledged the video."

The whole affair began as almost a lark.

“It started with the kind of crazy idea of saying, ‘Yeah, maybe I’ll go with Emma Stone to the prom,’” he said earlier this week. “I decided if I was going to do this, I really needed to do it big.”

"I definitely thought it was a total long shot, but being a passionate filmmaker I just wanted to do it," Staudenmaier said on Friday. "The response from this whole thing has been enough to keep the self-esteem high for a long time."

He also won't be missing the prom, which is set for April 29.

"I am going with another girl but I wouldn't refer to her as a backup," he says.

Does he think he's there's a chance for a future date with the 28-year-old Oscar winner?

"Maybe 30 years in the future?" he says. "I think my time for large prom proposals is going to fade away. It was fun while it lasted."

Reporter Bill Goodykoontz contributed to this story.