THE LASSO

Zac Efron’s sweet surprise for Simone Biles is gold

Aug 17, 2016, 1:15 PM | Updated: 3:03 pm

(Twitter Photo)...

(Twitter Photo)

(Twitter Photo)

Cute, high-energy Olympic gold-medal winner Simone Biles is not a typical teenager.

But she sure acted like one when the “Today” show surprised the U.S. gymnastics star and her teammates with a visit from movie and TV heartthrob Zac Efron in Rio.

Biles, 19, has a well-publicized crush on the actor, who flew in especially for the Tuesday meet-up. He and Biles had exchanged tweets but had not met.

Efron was kept hidden — “I totally have butterflies right now,” he said — until the whole team was brought into a room.

Any butterflies he had dropped in their tracks when Biles and her Final Five teammates — captain Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian — began squealing at the sight of him.

Show co-host Hoda Kotb teased Biles about previous comments the 19-year-old had made about Efron, and by then the gold medalists began to figure out what was happening.

“Stop, you’re lying. … no way … Ahhhh!” That was how Biles reacted when Efron was introduced.

Efron said meeting the group was a dream come true.

Behold more of the cuteness:

With this single act of good-guyness, Efron is officially forgiven for having made the box-office dud, “We Are Your Friends.”

The Lasso

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)...

Carter Williams/Deseret News

The stories behind 5 Christmas traditions you celebrate

There are plenty of Christmas traditions that people who celebrate the holiday have fond memories of, but how did they come to be?

2 years ago

(Screenshot)...

Mary Dalrymple/Deseret News

Here are 10 of the best Christmas commercials of all time

We’ve rounded up our favorite Christmas commercials — the ones that have stuck with us through the years and fill our hearts with joy.

3 years ago

(Screenshot)...

KTAR.com

A fly at the Harris, Pence debate has internet buzzing

During the second half of the debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, a fly landed on the vice president's head and it left the internet buzzing.

4 years ago

(Unsplash Photo)...

KTAR.com

5 things worth knowing about Leap Day and Leap Year

Every four years there's an extra day on the calendar. That day is Feb. 29, known as Leap Day.

4 years ago

(Storyblocks Image)...

KTAR.com

See some of the best Super Bowl ads before the big game

Watching commercials has become as much a part of Super Bowl viewing tradition as the football game itself to many fans. A new batch officially arrives Sunday.

4 years ago

(GoDaddy Photo)...

KTAR.com

So long, Red: Arizona-based GoDaddy unveils new logo minus dude

After 23 years, a certain gingerhair character who was the sunglasses-wearing face of GoDaddy has been gently shown the door.

4 years ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Condor Airlines

Condor Airlines can get you smoothly from Phoenix to Frankfurt on new A330-900neo airplane

Adventure Awaits! And there's no better way to experience the vacation of your dreams than traveling with Condor Airlines.

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Avoid a potential emergency and get your home’s heating and furnace safety checked

With the weather getting colder throughout the Valley, the best time to make sure your heating is all up to date is now. 

(KTAR News Graphic)...

Boys & Girls Clubs

KTAR launches online holiday auction benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley

KTAR is teaming up with The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley for a holiday auction benefitting thousands of Valley kids.

Zac Efron’s sweet surprise for Simone Biles is gold