Be prepared for what you are about to see because it is sight that will be imprinted in memory all day.
On Tuesday, Today Show host Matt Lauer and Kathie Lee Gifford shared a Lady and the Tramp-style kiss while eating a Twizzler.
Why would Kathie Lee agree to kiss Lauer on national television? For a good cause, of course. The two engaged in an awkward—and aggressive on Kathie Lee's part— kiss to spread awareness for a new autism awareness campaign.
You will not be able to unsee this...@KathieLGifford & @MLauer taking the #TwizzlerChallenge. pic.twitter.com/7v4QzIrgfL
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 17, 2015
Gifford in return challenged Regis Philbin and Hoda Kotb to take the challenge, and Lauer challenged Mad Men actors Jon Hamm and John Slattery.
We all remember the ALS Ice Bucket challenge of last summer, the viral campaign which raised over $115 million. So is the #TwizzlerChallenge the next Ice Bucket Challenge?
It just might be the next fundraising trend as it has taken off since beginning in early March.
The trend started during Jon Stewart's Night of Too Many Stars fundraiser to raise money for autism programs when a Bleacher Report writer challenged Today Show's Willie Geist and Uzo Aduba from Orange is the New Black to share a piece of licorice like Lady and the Tramp shared spaghetti on Twitter.
Surprisingly, the two went for it.
Apparently Geist doesn't find the #TwizzlerChallenge awkward because he went in for seconds, the second time with Meredith Vieria on The Meredith Vieira Show.
After stealing a quick peck with Vieria, Geist went on to challenge The Bachelor star Chis Soules and his fiancée Whitney, Access Hollywood reporters Billy Bush and Kit Hoover and Lauer and Gifford—which led to that painfully awkward kiss.
It seems like the #TwizzlerChallenge has only been a trend among TV personalities, but at least it's better than dumping ice-cold water on ourselves. Then again, if you take the challenge you better hope the person on the other end of that Twizzler doesn't have a cold.
And then there's @CarsonDaly, @TamronHall, & @SavannahGuthrie reacting to the #TwizzlerChallenge! pic.twitter.com/oUCAEX7vT6
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 17, 2015
If you want to take the #TwizzlerChallenge for austism, you can upload your Lady and the Tramp-style video on the website for New York Collaborates for Autism and/or leave a donation.
Watch Geist and Vieria take on the challenge below.
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Photo: Michael Bentley | Flickr
