Lance Armstrong was a legendary athlete. The American won the Tour de France seven times in a row, a feat no one else has achieved in the contest’s history. During his prime, Lance sometimes defeated the best cyclists in the world by a large margin. Fans loved Lance, and he inspired countless people to take up cycling. However, it all came crashing down in 2012.

After the United States Anti-Doping Agency investigated Armstrong, they reported the legendary cyclist had used performance-enhancing drugs. Almost overnight, the public perception of Lance changed. The Tour de France committee stripped Lance of his seven titles. While the world was shocked, comedian Bill Burr went the other way. Burr once explained his decision to Lance during a podcast.

Why Bill Burr didn’t vilify Lance Armstrong

Bill Burr once sat down with the cycling legend for a conversation. During their chat, Lance said the first time he saw Bill was after the Oprah Winfrey interview. The first time, Lance publicly admitted to using PEDs. Lance revealed his manager told him to watch a skit Bill Burr made about Armstrong. While reluctant, Lance watched the satire and realized Bill reacted differently.

Lance said he didn’t want to start the podcast by bringing up the skit. However, he wanted to thank Bill. “You were like the first guy unbeknownst to me that had my back, which is f*** cool,” said the cycling legend. Instead of vilifying Lance, Bill wanted to see the complete picture.

“If you’ve got to give back your s***, then shouldn’t they give back all the money that they made off of you,” the comedian told Lance. Burr explained he watched Tour de France for years before the USADA investigation and liked the contest. However, he also said those who profited using Armstrong’s name should’ve also returned their money like Lance returned his titles.

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Burr also said he was calling out the people who acted “holier than thou,” disassociating themselves from Lance after benefitting from him. “I was being a contrarian,” said Bill.

The aftermath of the USADA report

Besides the change in public perception, Lance’s confession shocked the sports world. Famous athletes like Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and others expressed shock and sadness.

Lance also had to face lawsuits. The whistleblower lawsuit with former teammate Floyd Landis ended in 2018. Lance had to pay $5 million to the government. The authorities also banned Lance from competitive cycling for life.

Watch this story – “A Sad Day for All Athletes”: Tennis Megastar Serena Williams Was Especially Saddened by Lance Armstrong’s Permeating Confession in 2013

What do you make of Bill Burr’s take on the situation?