What the Plank? Celebrities Get Straight and Narrow (Photos)

By Kiki Von Glinow Posted Jul 6th 2011 08:00PM

Forget purse dogs, Hummers and star tattoos, when it comes to the celebrity world's latest craze, 'everybody's doing it' seems to be an understatement. So what is it that's got everybody from Rosario Dawson to Justin Bieber getting down (literally) this time? Planking.

No it's not pirate slang or a crude euphemism, it is literally the act of laying light as a feather, stiff as a board -- like a plank of wood.

But before we delve too far into the art of laying still, that so many celebrities have already mastered, let's first engage in a bit of planking 101 -- from what we've learned there are several important planking rules to live by. One can plank on anything and everything. One should enlist a friend to photograph said planking. One must post said photograph to every and any social networking site with a certain level of strategic apathy. One should once again show off said planking skills on as many late night talk shows as possible.

Take Rosario Dawson for example, ever since she was introduced to the 'sport' just a couple of weeks ago, she's been a planking pro -- getting flat on an elephant, on some stairs, on her hair and makeup table.

"I just discovered it last week," Dawson told Chelsea Handler before giving her a tutorial. "You lay face down and you have your hands at your sides and you point your toes."

Sounds simple enough. But planking isn't always that innocent.

"I've always wanted to do it with you on your desk," Dawson told Jimmy Kimmel in an interview before planking on the late night show host's set desk.

Usher, who never falls flat, even got his two little ones -- Usher Jr. and Naviyd -- in on the craze, planking on a piano.

But that's not all, Justin Bieber planked on a boat, Katy Perry planked on a yacht and Chris Brown planked on a circle. Kristen Bell planked on a railing, Ellen Page planked on a traffic cone and Flavor Flav planked on a truck bed.

So what is it about this straight and narrow game that has everyone from rappers to dramatic actresses hitting the ground? Honestly, we have no idea.

Tags: ellen page, justin bieber, kristen bell, rosario dawson

Comments

(23)

Wednesday 06 July

By Chris

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Okay, that is just planking weird...

By J

This might be the stupidest and funniest celeb fad I've ever seen. Not as coocoo as Scientology but still, lying down is news??

By wmayer

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If she poses for playboy.I will cancel my subscription.

By Jamie

She's a beautiful woman with a stupid hobby. You would cancel your subscription because of that? You must be even more shallow than the celebrities "planking."

By dsafsda

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lets go◎★◎

believe you will love it.

====( w w w )( jordans forking )( c o m )

BEST QUALITY GUARANTEE!!

By The Train!

well, it wasn't going to be reading a book. literacy won't catch on among the glamorous. trying hard to resemble an inanimate object, however; this is the trick they're all trying to master. a collective high-five for western civilization!

Thursday 07 July

By Jean

Planking has also hit the sports world saw Gilbert Arenas and Dwight Howard Planking

By tinkerbell

I really am disapointed in so many celebs not knowing that "planking" was what slaves went through when they were put on boats and brought to America. Planking was the term the slavemasters used to describe the way the slaves were laid on the boat decks, i.e how close and on top of each other they were on the decks and throughout the ship. still funny???

Friday 08 July

By Josie

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YOU SHOULD RE-POST THIS. A FEW TIMES DURING THE DAY. OBVIOUSLY, SOME PEOPLE HERE CAN'T READ CAUSE THEY'RE STILL ASKING WHAT AND WHY......

Saturday 09 July

By lisa

yes, it's meant to be funny,,, it's called humor,,, not everything has a relation to history,,, get over yourself and try it,,, it's just a silly, stupid, thing some people do with their friends for a laugh,,, loosen up!

Tuesday 12 July

By complacentoddity

Perhaps a little in that I find it ironic that many of the celebs listed as having been spotted doing it are African American. A little bit ironic I would say

By ickymcpooh

The slavemasters didnt call it planking thats false.Though it was same position and on planks.This has nothing to do with slaves its a stupid exersize thats supposed to tighten abs if done correct.Now its a joke nothing to do with race

By Mo

What's the point of this? I don't understand.

By ljsurf322

Planking is a workout for the abs, but most people are doing it wrong now that it's gained pop culture attention. Now it's just a dumb fad where you're lying down just being still. You're supposed to have your toes and elbows touching the ground with the rest of your body flat like a board, or "plank", or instead of your elbows and toes, between two objects...as long as the rest of your body is elevated and held straight.

By TORI

Just another stupid attention getter. Way more things better to do with your time people!!!

By Joanne

When I was a kid, we called that laying down.

By papaknuck1942

I doubt you'll see Oprah planking unless they stick a couple of wheel chocks on either side to keep her from rolling away.

By chocolate1281

Why????

By KS.

SO this tightens the abs? How long does it take? I mean is it 10 minutes or more,in this position? It looks kind of difficult.

By Mark Zofcin

Not EVERYTHING is racist. I wish people would just give it up. Live in todays world!