South Jersey Teen Goes To Prom In A Coffin (Video)

PENNSAUKEN, NJ — A New Jersey high school student who aspires to be a funeral director got some on-the-job training this last week: She went to her prom in a coffin.

Megan Flaherty told The Associated Press she wanted to have fun while attending Pennsauken High School's junior prom on Saturday.

The 17-year-old told the news agency she checked with her date to make sure he had no qualms about. He didn't.

In the video, two men — one of whom, Stephen Caldwell, was Flaherty's date — slid the 17-year-old out of the back of the hearse. Funeral director Dennis McGee stood by, wearing a top hat.

She then casually stepped out of the coffin, clasped the hand of her date, stretched her legs out and smiled as others looked on.

"I like being different," Flaherty said in an nj.com report.

Flaherty said in the report that she knew the moment would create some buzz at the prom. She never expected, however, that photographs of her entrance would be shared widely on social media.

Some on social media criticized her decision, calling it insensitive and tasteless. "Anything people do these days, people judge it," Flaherty said of the criticism. "People have opinions."

One woman wrote on a YouTube post: "Classless, tasteless, and insensitive."

"I am not surprised her goal is to be a funeral director. When she applies for the job, I am betting more than one funeral home will reject her for mocking the dead."

Here is the video:

YouTube nj.com video/photo