Spotify interviewed Atticus for their series "Most Viral Fan." Atticus became famous years ago as "the kid in the orange jacket" who managed to get onstage with Lady Gaga during her tour and dance with her.
The video of them dancing together has since gone viral around the world, becoming one of the most touching moments in pop music history.
Watch his story below.
Atticus learned the choreography to "Scheiße," which he later performed with Gaga on stage, "in my room, in my underwear, watching YouTube videos" he told Spotify. He had originally planned to avoid any spoilers before attending the Born This Way Ball, but he wanted to teach the steps to one of his dance classes.
As the legend goes, he camped out for the show with friends and narrowly secured entry into the Monster Pit. It was there that he started doing the "Scheiße" choreography when he was spotted by Gaga.
Atticus "pushed through that crowd like a battering ram to the front of the stage," after hearing Gaga call him up. "Blackout is not the right word because I was so conscious."
"I don't feel like I had control over my body," he recounts, trusting his knowledge of the dance to carry him through the performance. The parts he wasn't sure of were the stage directions. Fortunately, the dancers graciously directed him on where to go.
"The next thing I knew, we were stopped at the front, and the lights were on us." That's when a fan threw a bouquet of flowers onstage. Atticus dropped to his knee and held them out to Gaga, who gave him a kiss.
After the song, "that's where the real magic happened." Atticus was pulled backstage and given the opportunity to hang out with Gaga's dancers (some of whom he's still in touch with today), and the superstar herself. "Oh my god, you are so fab," she told him, and signed his jacket.
That jacket, ironically, was one Atticus stole from "a girl from high school." It's safe to say he's not giving it back or giving it away—turning down offers up to $20k.
Even though Atticus has pursued his passion for photography over dance, he still cites the viral moment as a life-changing event. "She probably changed my life more than anything else ever has."
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