Twizzler Challenge
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About
Twizzler Challenge (hashtag: #TwizzlerChallenge) is a social media dare game in which two participants must share a single stick of the licorice candy from the opposite ends and meet in the middle for a kiss. Launched in late March 2015, the challenge aims to benefit New York Collaborates for Autism NYCA), a non-profit organization devoted to addressing and fulfilling the special needs of people with autism, following the path of the Ice Bucket Challenge that raised millions of dollars in donation for the ALS foundation in 2014.
Origin
On March 9th, 2015, during the live broadcast of Comedy Central’s charity special program Night of Too Many Stars: America Comes Together for Autism Programs, a viewer called in and requested Willie Geist, the host of NBC's morning news program Today, and Uzo Abuda, a cast member of Orange is the New Black, to take on the challenge (shown below) for the benefit of medical research on Autism.
The challenge can be seen as a tribute to the famous "spaghetti kissing" scene from the 1955 Disney animated romantic musical comedy film Lady and the Tramp (shown below).
Spread
In the following week, numerous TV personalities and celebrities shared their videos of participating in Twizzler Challenge, beginning with Willie Geist and Meredith Vieira, the host of NBC's Meredith Vieira Show on March 12th, followed by Regis Philbin and Hoda Kotb on March 23rd (shown below).
On March 18th, Instagram user Allison Williams shared a video[12] that shows her and Lena Dunham taking the Twizzler Challenge with the official hashtag #NYC4A, which has garnered more than 8,500 likes in less than a week.
News Media Coverage
On March 18th, Jezebel[7] reported on the emerging trend in an article titled "The Twizzler Challenge: Because the Ice Bucket Challenge Wasn't Enough," followed by mainstream news outlets like Fox News[3], TIME[6], PBS[5] and NBC Today[9], as well as internet culture blogs and news sites, including Cheezburger[2], The Huffington Post[10] and Uproxx[4], among many others.
Search Interest
External References
[1] New York Collaborates For Autism – #TwizzlerChallenge
[2] Uproxx – Regis And Hoda Took ‘The Twizzler Challenge’ Which Led To This Sexy Smooch
[3] Fox News – Is Twizzler Challenge the Next Ice Bucket Challenge?
[4] Cheezburger – Twizzler Challenge, Unlike Ice Bucket Challenge, Makes Everyone Uncomfortable
[5] PBS – Is the ‘Twizzler Challenge’ for autism the web’s new viral fundraiser?
[6] TIME – The Twizzler Challenge Might Be the Next Ice Bucket Challenge
[7] Jezebel – The Twizzler Challenge: Because the Ice Bucket Challenge Wasn't Enough
[8] Bar Stool Sports – Regis And Hoda Did The Twizzler Challenge And Now I Wanna Claw My Eyes Out
[9] Today – 'That was really good!' Regis plants a few big smooches on Hoda during Twizzler Challenge
[10] The Huffington Post – Regis Philbin And Hoda Kotb Awkwardly Kiss For A Cause
[11] Comedy Central – Night of Too Many Stars
[12] Instagram – @aw's Video
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