We all remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge of summer 2014. Praised for raising both awareness and money toward ALS and criticized for wasting tonnes of water during a record drought, the Ice Bucket Challenge took over the internet.
If you’ve forgotten, the Challenge entailed pouring a bucket of ice water over your head and nominating a selection of friends over social media, who were then forced to repeat the challenge within 24 hours. If they forfeited, they were supposed to donate money to the ALS Association.
Well, you’ve had a long enough break from having your social media feeds dominated by these unabating videos, feeling insecure about not being nominated yet, or feeling guilty about “forgetting” to donate money to the cause.
The Twizzler Challenge is here to make a difference.
What began during Jon Stewarts Night of Too Many Stars fundraiser gala for autism has now become a celebrity-endorsed activity to raise money toward helping people with autism. The current beneficiary is an organization called New York Collaborates for Autism, though funds will likely be raised more locally when the Twizzler Challenge takes off.
Challengers pair up to nibble both ends of a piece of licorice until they meet in the middle – Lady and the Tramp style – and kiss and clap hands.
Matt Lauer and Kathy Lee Gifford shared an awkward kiss on Wednesday’s Today Show to demonstrate.
Image: NBC Today
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Lena Dunham and Allison Williams from HBO’s “Girls” also jumped on the bandwagon and posted a video to Instagram earlier this morning, nominating Rita Wilson, Larry David, Katie Lowes, Guillermo Diaz, Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson.
If you are planning on taking part, don’t forget to use #TwizzlerChallenge and consider donating to any of these Vancouver or B.C.-based autism organizations:
(Side note: How happy is Hershey’s Twizzler with this free promotion?)