“We’re Punishing Him Because..”- Millionaire Hollywood Fame Ben Foster Had a Complex Opinion on Lance Armstrong

Biopics have become a great source of entertainment and information for fans. Movies made about various athletes’ life, shines a light on the behind-the-scenes happenings. These movies help fans better understand the lives of their idols. One such biopic was on the life of cyclist Lance Armstrong. The American actor Ben Foster portrayed the role of Armstrong in the movie.

While playing the role, Foster came to know a lot about his complicated life. And after gathering all the information he could, Foster has a convoluted take on Armstrong.

Ben Foster’s take on Lance Armstrong

There’s a saying that goes by, ‘to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.’ It roughly means before we judge someone, we must understand their mindset, challenges, experiences, etc. Actors who play roles inspired by real-life personas are the prime example of this quote. They probably get a firsthand experience of what went through a person’s mind in various stages of their life.

Ben Foster is no stranger to the feeling. The actor, who spent nearly a year researching and playing Armstrong’s character, went through different experiences to understand what it was like to be Armstrong. “On one hand, he’s a lying doper who tricked the world. On the other, he’s a young man who faced cancer. It changes you,” said Foster.

The actor added, “We just don’t like him because he was Jesus Christ on a bicycle. We’re mad he came back from the dead, saved the sick, and then turned out to be full of s—. And we’re punishing him because he didn’t apologize in the way we’d like. Americans love a good apology. He wouldn’t do that.”

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Before the filming of the movie ‘The Program,’ Foster knew very little about the story of Armstrong. But he was left with two minds and a complicated opinion when the shooting wrapped up.

The rise and fall of Armstrong

Lance Armstrong first made a name for himself in 1995 when he beat metastatic testicular cancer. He returned to professional cycling in the following year. But, in 1999, Armstrong made history as he won the Tour de France, his first of seven. By winning one of the most demanding and prestigious races, he quickly became a revered athlete of the time.

Armstrong won seven consecutive Tour de France titles before retiring at 33. He made a comeback a few years later but was nowhere near his best. Controversy followed Armstrong throughout his career as he was accused of consuming performance-enhancing drugs. In 2012, per a report from the US Anti-Doping Agency, they stripped Armstrong of all seven of his titles. And in 2013, after years of ardently denying the accusations, Armstrong admitted to the allegations.

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From being one of the most revered athletes on the planet, Armstrong quickly became a face of controversy. Ultimately, Armstrong got banned for life from all cycling events.