Joseph “Jersey Joe” Lepinski, a senior at Montclair State University, celebrated his graduation in a manner befitting his social media persona: by dancing across the stage. Known for his vibrant TikTok presence, Lepinski’s journey began at Montclair and culminated in his commencement ceremony on May 13, 2024.
“Montclair is where my TikTok/social media career all started, and I’ll always remember this journey as a student here,” said Lepinski. His graduation attire included oversized yellow slippers that revealed his secret identity as Rocky the Red Hawk, Montclair’s cherished mascot. He served on Team Rocky for two years.
“The best part of being Rocky for years was making people smile and interacting with people to make their day a little brighter,” Lepinski added. His love for dance shone through even when performing as Rocky.
Lepinski’s social media career has flourished since he began recording dance videos three years ago. He has amassed 3.6 million followers on TikTok and nearly 400,000 on Instagram. His content primarily features him dancing in support of New York professional sports teams, including regular appearances on the official TikTok accounts of the New York Rangers and New York Knicks.
His online success stemmed from a night of boredom in his dorm room when he decided to record himself dancing to Jersey Club music. The suggestion of ‘Jersey Joe’ as an online moniker appealed to him due to its reference to his favorite music genre and his name. This marked the birth of Jersey Joe’s online persona.
One of Lepinski’s most popular TikTok videos shows him attempting to dance with a goose, which has garnered almost 32 million views. Even Emmy Award-winning actress Sydney Sweeney has participated in a TikTok duet video alongside one of Lepinski’s dances.
Known for creating the “slipper slap” dance move, Lepinski often films his dance videos in casual attire at his apartment or parents’ kitchen. His online popularity has opened doors to opportunities ranging from club appearances to concerts. He now receives monetary compensation for creating dance videos for the Rangers and Knicks.
Lepinski’s advice for those aspiring to turn their social media presence into a career is to “have fun and be yourself but the most important is staying consistent.” After graduation, he plans on pursuing social media full time, with his degree in Physical Education teaching serving as a backup plan.
