Fans loved the McConaissance, in which Matthew McConaughey went from witless romcom star to intense, Oscar-winning dramatic actor. The immense face in which his career revitalization has resulted also led the esteemed actor to make some friends in unlikely places. McConaughey is known for having some rather odd choices in pals, but there's nothing quite so random as his bromance with Lance Armstrong.
Lance Armstrong is, of course, the once venerated cyclist whose career and reputation were destroyed when he was exposed as a doper. While McConaughey's career was on the rise, Armstrong was in a perpetual downward spiral, but did the actor have his disgraced pal's back the whole time? This is the truth about Matthew McConaughey and Lance Armstrong's bromance.
10 Breakups With Famous Women Led To Their Bromance
Before he met his wife, Camila Alves, Matthew McConaughey dated a number of A-list celebs, including actress Penelope Cruz. In 2006, they broke up after a year of dating, while Lance Armstrong concurrently broke up with his girlfriend, singer Sheryl Crow.
Their respective breakups brought them together. Plus, both being native Texans, the pair immediately bonded.
9 There Were Rumors That They Were An Item
At the time of their blossoming bromance in 2006, rumors began to spread that McConaughey and Armstrong were in a gay relationship. This being the 2000s, the notion was deemed comical, which seems grossly offensive and regressive in the era of LGBT+ awareness.
Male friendship is a thing and men are quite capable of forming close bonds without there being a sexual element.
8 Their Friendship Was All About Brotherhood
Unity and brotherhood were central to the close bond that the two men formed. "A lot of people don't understand friendship and brotherhood. I have a great friend in him," McConaughey told People at the time. "I'd do anything he asked me to, even though he'd probably never ask me to, and he feels the same way." In light of revelations about Armstrong, this quote hasn't aged too well.
7 Armstrong Hooked The Actor Up With His Wife
Matthew McConaughey met Camila Alves in the most awkward way; she had no idea who the famous star was. It wasn't until Lance Armstrong tipped her off about what a big celeb his pal was that Alves agreed to go out with McConaughey.
They married in 2012 and have 3 kids together, so he has Armstrong to thank for his tranquil married life.
6 McConaughey Found Armstrong Inspiring
Prior to the doping scandal, Lance Armstrong was undoubtedly viewed as an inspirational figure. Having beaten terminal cancer against all odds and then going on to win numerous Olympic medals, McConaughey looked up to his friend.
"He's a great man. You look for people or ideas who are inspiring and he definitely is," the actor told People in 2006. "His second chapter, now that he's not riding the tour, is to be the face and leader of cancer research. And he's attacking that just like he did the tour."
5 But Armstrong Was Exposed As A Cheat
In 2012, the moment that Lance Armstrong dreaded the most came: it was revealed that he had been doping throughout his career. Subsequently, he was stripped of all his Tour de France titles and Olympic medals. Seemingly overnight, the cyclist went from hero to national disgrace.
4 McConaughey Felt Betrayed
Understandably, McConaughey was let down by the revelations that the man he had loved and admired was a fraud.
"I was mad. I then got kind of sad for him. First off, I had a part of me that took it kind of personally, which I think a lot of people have," he told MTV in 2013, following Armstrong's confession that some of the allegations were true.
3 But McConaughey Says His Pal Isn't A Liar
The Lance Armstrong exposé led to intense scrutiny of those around him. McConaughey had to bear the brunt of this, as the press hounded him regarding his long time bromance with the cheating athlete.
"He told a lie, he's not a liar," McConaughey clarified to Details magazine in what appeared to be a lumbering defence.
2 McConaughey Stuck By Armstrong
Despite appearing to distance himself from Armstrong when the scandal broke, McConaughey has still been seen hanging out with the disgraced cyclist. In 2018, the actor and his wife were spotted with Armstrong at the World Golf Championships in Austin, Texas and the beaming trio were clearly getting along swimmingly.
They were also spotted at WWE Raw together a year later.
1 Did He Know Armstrong Was Doping?
Considering their closeness, one has to wonder whether McConaughey knew about Armstrong's cheating. They had indeed been friends for the duration of Armstrong's doping compulsion. However, it appears that Armstrong kept that secret to himself, a secret so dark that not even his beloved BFF was told about it.
"Where I am now is I've put myself out of the way and I am happy for this guy, who has now chosen to re-enter this new chapter of his life a truly free man," McConaughey explained to MTV. "And the weight he had on his shoulders, without the bogeyman under the bed, the skeleton in the closet that he's carried for 14 years. Fourteen years he lied and carried the lie with him."