Popularity
The band became a popular fashion item in the United States by the end of the summer of 2004, especially among those following Armstrong's Tour de France effort. They soon gained popularity worldwide. It first appeared on a majority of the contenders at the 2004 Tour de France. Personalities such as 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, news anchor Katie Couric, actor Matt Damon, and several athletes at the Athens Olympic Games wore the band. Appearances on and endorsements by popular TV shows such as Oprah, also raised its profile enormously.
On an August 2007 edition of the satirical television show The Colbert Report (where Armstrong made a guest appearance), Stephen Colbert parodied the wristband, creating the "Wriststrong" wristband, in his growing campaign against "wrist violence".
In The Office episode "Michael's Birthday," Michael creates a makeshift Livestrong wristband out of yellow paper upon finding out that Kevin is at risk for skin cancer.
In December 2009, Ben Stiller parodied the Livestrong bracelets with the introduction of Stillerstrong headbands to raise money to build a school in Haiti in partnership with Save the Children.
Read more about this topic: Livestrong Wristband
Famous quotes containing the word popularity:
“The nation looked upon him as a deserter, and he shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.... He was fixed in the house of lords, that hospital of incurables, and his retreat to popularity was cut off; for the confidence of the public, when once great and once lost, is never to be regained.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
“There are few cases in which mere popularity should be considered a proper test of merit; but the case of song-writing is, I think, one of the few.”
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1845)
“In everything from athletic ability to popularity to looks, brains, and clothes, children rank themselves against others. At this age [7 and 8], children can tell you with amazing accuracy who has the coolest clothes, who tells the biggest lies, who is the best reader, who runs the fastest, and who is the most popular boy in the third grade.”
—Stanley I. Greenspan (20th century)