Pop superstar Michael Jackson grabs his crotch during his first of two concerts in Seoul October 11. South Korean authorities agreed to let Jackson perform his History concert in Seoul on the condition that he refrained from any "lewd gestures"
IN PHOTO: Pop superstar Michael Jackson grabs his crotch during his first of two concerts in Seoul October 11. South Korean authorities agreed to let Jackson perform his History concert in Seoul on the condition that he refrained from any "lewd gestures" during the show. REUTERS
Pop superstar Michael Jackson grabs his crotch during his first of two concerts in Seoul October 11. South Korean authorities agreed to let Jackson perform his History concert in Seoul on the condition that he refrained from any "lewd gestures" during the show. REUTERS

With his patented crotch grab pose, music icon Michael Jackson would have been the perfect endorser of a new viral trend to promote a testicular cancer awareness campaign if he were still alive. Using the hashtag #FeelingNuts, the campaign has tapped celebrities to have a photo of themselves grabbing their private parts and then challenging others to do the same in the tradition of the highly successful Ice Bucket Challenge that raised over $100 million.

It started when TV host Rick Edwards tweeted his crotch grab photo and his challenge to Ricky Gervais, a British comedian, to follow his hands. That was in late August. By mid-September, 5 Seconds of Summer, a boy band in Australia had done it, and the latest to join the trend is Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman.

Jackman, America's Next Top Model former judge Nigel Barker and two other male friends of the actor agree and had their crotch shot taken, with the Australian actor tweeting, "I accept the #feelingnuts raising awareness for testicular cancer."

He then nominated another actor, Neil Patrick Harris, who in turn nominated Star Trek's William Shatner.

Although testicular cancer is a male ailment, a woman had been nominated and singer Ellie Gouldiing obliged with her image posted by Douglas Poynter of McFly, although he later deleted the photo.

Besides the nuts grab challenge, the campaign also dares men to give their testicles a name. In the Web site for the campaign, a man said he calls his man balls Jedward "because people are sick of seeing them." Another Twitter member named Check One Two christened his testicles Rom-Coms "because w we always want them to have a happy ending."

There are between 7,500 and 8,000 testicular cancer diagnoses annually in the US, while in Britain the figure is lower at 2,000. When the cancer has not spread outside the testicle, 5-year survival rate is 99 per cent. Among the most prominent survivor is cyclist Lance Armstrong.

Other groups had made interesting testicular awareness campaigns such as this one.

YouTube/Malcolmroygreenhill