Comments were pouring in from everywhere: "Find this girl and help her." "She deserves to play at Carnegie Hall." "This is what real talent looks like." "Someone start a fundraiser for her."
But not all the comments were kind. Some people wrote mean things like "This is probably fake" or "She's just looking for money." Others said, "There are lots of homeless people. Why is she special just because she can play piano?"
Most people, though, were moved by the combination of Maria's incredible talent and her difficult situation. The video showed the cruel laughter at the beginning, followed by the stunned silence as she played. People could see the transformation happening in real time.
Rachel Stevens, a social worker in the Bronx, shared the video with an important message: "This video shows how we judge people by their appearance instead of their hearts. How many talented, beautiful souls do we ignore every day because they don't look like what we expect?"
The hashtag #pianogirlmaria started trending on Twitter. People were using it to share the video and discuss homelessness, talent, and judging others. The conversation was spreading beyond just music into bigger questions about society.
Celebrity musician John Legend saw the video and shared it with his millions of followers: "This young woman has a gift that needs to be nurtured and protected," he wrote. "Music has the power to change lives, and her story is proof of that."
By evening, the video had been viewed over a million times. News websites were writing articles about it. Radio stations were talking about it. Television shows were planning segments about Maria and her story.
But Maria herself had no idea that she was becoming famous on the internet. She had never used social media and did not own a phone or computer. She was spending her first night in months in a real bed, thanks to Jonathan, who had paid for her to stay in a small hotel.
Jonathan's phone was ringing constantly with calls from reporters, talent agents, and record companies. Everyone wanted to know more about Maria. Everyone wanted to talk to her or sign her to a contract.
"This is getting out of control," Jonathan told his wife over the phone. "The whole world wants to find this girl, but she's just a teenager who needs help, not fame."
The story was being covered on television news shows. Anderson Cooper talked about it on CNN. The hosts of Good Morning America discussed plans to invite Maria on their show. Entertainment Tonight wanted to do a special segment about her.