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Body Language Expert Breaks Down Lance Armstrong’s Apology (and It Doesn’t Bode Well for Lance)

Jan. 18, 2013 2:31pm Jonathon M. Seidl

Body Language Expert Patrick ODonnell Says Armstrong Apology Wasnt Sincere

A photo illustration shows a man watching a TV showing disgraced cycling star Lance Armstrong with Oprah Winfrey is seen in a bar in downtown Los Angeles January 17. 2013. During the interview Lance Armstrong admited doping while competing professionally in the sport. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Much of the news has been dominated today by reaction to Lance Armstrong’s confession to Oprah that he did, in fact, dope while he was the top cyclist in the world. And much has been said about whether he was genuine or not. Some would say that’s hard to tell, while others would say Armstrong himself revealed how truly sorry he was simply by the way he delivered is mea culpa.

One such person in the latter camp is Professor Patrick O’Donnell from the University of Glasgow. In an interview with the London Telegraph, the body language expert revealed that while Armstrong was saying one thing, his body was saying quite another.

“He’s confronted by a set of questions on whether he was the leader and mastermind of the doping activity,” O’Donnell explains.

“These are actually serious accusations which should lead to him expressing sorrow and regret. However he can’t resist making little smiles from time to time as he reflects on his bullying experience and his experience as a controlling mastermind and that would indicate that in reality he’s taking pride in what he did, rather than genuinely feeling remorse.”

At one point O’Donnel even notes the many times Armstrong hits his chest, which he says is a sort of primal way of puffing yourself up.

Watch the fascinating breakdown below:

The professor isn’t the only one scrutinizing the confession, though. Betsy Andreu, who came forward and said she once heard Armstrong confess to doping while he was in the hospital, was disgusted. Armstrong sued Andreu after she made her claims and won. She delivered an emotional interview to Anderson Cooper right after the confession:

This story has been updated.

(H/T: Business Insider)

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Comments (49)

8mileshigh
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 6:23pm
I agree with Cavallo, I wanted to believe him (although I didn’t follow the story of people accusing him etc. ’cause I was busy with other things. To be honest I still think it’s amazing what he did athletically having seen what cancer and chemo do to people firsthand. But like Cavallo I also think he has a personality disorder such as sociopathy (hopefully not) or narcissism. At least he’s getting therapy. I also noticed during his interview his hand went right to his mouth whenever he was asked tough questions and he kept shaking or nodding his head opposite of whatever he was saying. Both are considered signs of lying I believe although I think he could have just been nervous.

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yourpaled
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:14pm
Now, a little off topic, but let’s get ODonnel’s take on the body language of those parents being interviewed after the Snady Hook killings. I think all of us would find that VERY interesting.
How about Obama’s body language every time he doesn’t have a teleprompter to read?

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WhatTheHuh
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:59pm
If you want to know if Armstrong is truly sorry, look to his actions AFTER he apologizes since we never really know if the impetus for his apology was true remorse or simply because he got caught in the lie. The fact that he played the indignant victim for so long (even to the point of suing people who reported his steroid use) suggests to me that he probably isn’t a quality individual and this “apology” is probably based more on the fact that his ability to make lots of money has finally been affected by his lying. I could be wrong, but we will see.

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onceasoldier
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 1:26pm
The old timers, people that have now 85 or more years, remember sports with scrawny guys, fat guys, short guys, even ugly guys(kidding here…). At some point, the money involved in sports got so big that changed the nature of the game. It has been known forever that cyclists were having ” things”, all of them. Lance, possibly a psychopath, decided to lead this pack of false athletes and won. He misled the public(or part of it) but not the game or other “liers”. At some point they all revolted against him because he was wining everything. He should have shared more. This is like robbing a bank. Equal shares are a good guarantee that the pack of thieves will stay together. He got greedy. But what is important now is to know which things and how was he taking them. What he did was an incredible feat that can be used in medicine to help sick people. Forget about the sport. Think of a guy(or girl…) after surgery. You could use all the help you can get to recover. I am talking about grave illness here. All of us have seen a loved one in such a bad shape…, and always thought about that magical pill. Maybe is here. Lets take advantage of this “discovery”. Doctors have now something to check out.

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caf338
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 12:59pm
When are we going to quit putting our faith in men?

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ripley
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 10:10am
I would love to see some body language experts tell us what they see when Pres. Obama is speaking.

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- smv803
  Posted on January 19, 2013 at 11:40am
  I don’t think anyone of us needs an expert to read the tea leaves about Osama and his intent; I know I don’t.
  
  Report this comment
- anothercomment
  Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:54pm
  I want to hear someone analyze Dictator Obama’s body language…OUT LOUD-IN PUBLIC.
  
  Report this comment
davidmundy
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 7:57am
My bookshelf has a shelf labeled “Biographies and Heroes”. It has such books as MLK, Lincoln, George W. Carver, and Glenn Beck books. I am moving my lance armstrong books off of that shelf… down next to my Frankenstein, Woodrow Wilson, and Hitler section. I have done the same thing in my mind. This is the tragedy: We have all lost ANOTHER hero.

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- 8mileshigh
  Posted on January 19, 2013 at 6:10pm
  I agree it’s sad we lost a hero. The Tour de France was exciting to watch even though I myself never got around to watching it for more than a few minutes. I had family members and friends who really looked up to and identified with Lance. I remember once seeing on the road during the Tour de France someone had written “F!?*#! you Lance” and I just felt awful that Lance should have to see that, that was so mean-spirited, and athletes should all be treated with respect during a competition. I still think they should but obviously whoever wrote that new him better than alot of us did.
  
  Report this comment
ezalbeht666
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 10:19pm
I’ll say it. He’s a psychopath.

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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on January 19, 2013 at 1:25am
  Armstrong should have got some lying pointers from Bill Clinton. That’s guy is a master at looking you right in your eyes and lying through his teeth.
  
  Report this comment
SuttonShimai
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 6:56pm
Um, reality check here. This guy is a *cyclist*. Big deal. There are far more important people out there than someone who rides a bicycle. Get over it.

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- Conpopof3
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 7:58pm
  Yeah…just a cyclist…who bilked millions of dollars from companies for his own personal gain. Just a cyclist…who sued and won millions defending his farcical self.
  
  Report this comment
- Exiled
  Posted on January 19, 2013 at 4:28am
  Not my fault companies were willing to dump money into him. I never understood that about any sport.
  
  Report this comment
- LIBSALWAYSLIE
  Posted on January 19, 2013 at 8:19am
  SUTTON, what in idiotic statement. People like you are whats wrong with society. It does matter, he’s affected countless lives, many of them very young, and impressionable. Of course there are more important people, but that is completely irrelevant.
  
  Report this comment
sandrunner
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 6:53pm
karma sucks

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RaydocX
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 4:33pm
uhm, guess what, America…
Lance capitulated… did what the Left was demanding…
HE WAS NEVER CAUGHT DOPING.
Go ahead, prove that he did it… you cannot without real facts… just heresay and his own… coerced admission.
How many of us could withstand the scrutiny he endured for two decades?
HUNDREDS of tests came up negative.

so that is ignored, and his ‘admission’ is now being panned as his not meaning it?

Maybe he didn’t mean it because he didn’t, really… or only did some of the time… but he thinks this is the only way to get the Media monster off of his back…

i know i wouldn’t want the entire MSM villifying me, accepting a guilty punishment without a fair trial… remember lots of supposed criminals ‘incriminate themselves’ just to get the pressure of an interrogation lifted… it’s the reason for Miranda.

sad that our nation accepts such unconstitutional treatment of a citizen.

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- shorelineliz
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 4:51pm
  I’m pretty sure he admitted to doping and his metals were taken away. He is a disgraced athlete and no one believes his crap story about anything. While he was doping “like everyone else” for 20 years he was stealing the potential victory away from other Tour De France cyclists. Somebody should beat him with sticks and reeds. He was smirking during this interview and everybody can easily see that. I never liked this guy. I always thought he was a fake and phony. You cannot continuously win the Tour De France over and over. Other athletes complained about this guy for years cause guess what? They knew! It’s a statistical impossibility to win the Tour de France that many times and that many years in a row. Other athletes and experts in this field knew that. They have been wanting Lance Armstrong “caught” for illegally enhancing his performance and finally was caught and how does he react? With smirks! Again. Get the sticks and reeds out and onto his backside. Cause the other athletes who were cheated out of their potential win will do much worse I assure you if they ever see him around their town. He is due for a beat down by them and rightly so! He deserves it and worse! Unconscionable arrogant arse!
  
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truthnstuff
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 4:17pm
Let’s see, slick Willie comes, he and his whole media machine, lies day in and day out, lies under oath, get’s disbarred, and becomes an icon and a hero, and a mufti-millionaire.

Armstrong uses enhancing drugs, denies he used them, becomes the most despicable person to have lived and needs to be sued for every cent he has.

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- shorelineliz
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 4:57pm
  Agree. A Rod for the back of fools and liars. Everybody line up. I got all day.
  
  Report this comment
gbgreta
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:55pm
I didn’t have to watch any of it to know that the guy is a lying skunk.

Oprie should be ashamed to give the guy a forum for his B.S.

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cucycln
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:29pm
Beck sometimes you have great things to Post. But you missed the boat on this one.

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LRC
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:26pm
I am so sick of celebrities…boo hoo poor me…I didn’t know boo hoo
They can all go to he]] honestly they all are jerks. done with them all.

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- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:33pm
  He’s only sorry he got caught – never liked him or the other “Spandex Warriors” any way. Must be a Liberal Commie Sport – especially since it is so popular with the Sissy French !
  
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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:34pm
  LRC,
  He is not a celebrity. Were it not for him lying, cheating and stealing he would have never been known. But, I get your point. I was just jumping on to trash him some more. Stand tall patriot.
  
  Report this comment
Junter
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:23pm
Really tired of hearing about folks who skirt the rules until they’re caught. Perhaps the punishment for cheating isn’t strong enough. Set in example with Armstrong so there is no repeat from like minded cheats.

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Mil-Dot
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:21pm
I never believed for a second that he won those bike races fair and square. There is no way in hell a guy his age could smoke all those others without cheating. I knew it. It just did not make sense. The man basically stole from people to put forth the lie. He defamed people, ruined their reputations and did whatever he could to get fame and fortune that he did not deserve. Lance Armstrong is a disgusting individual. He smears the name of Armstrong. He does not deserve to have the same sir name as the late, great Neil Armstrong. He was a real hero. This person is a disgrace. He is only sorry because he got caught.Sheryl Crow was right about him.

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IndianaJan
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:58pm
Of COURSE Lance’s “apology” was phoney. We didn’t need experts, or even to watch the Orca show, to know this.
Why should we care about Lance? Because he is a liar and a fraud. There isn’t even “honor among thieves” anymore, as the runner-ups for these races have been frauds, too.
Believe it or not, we should care very deeply about this.
We have lost our Media (and our country) to Frauds and Liars and Cheats.
This is the only explanation for Obama’s election and re-election. Period.

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- zapparules
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:11pm
  Do you feel some need to call Oprah an offensive name?
  What are you – 4 years old?
  
  Report this comment
- cucycln
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:27pm
  I agree with you Zapparules he is 4 years old and I’m not talking about Lance either.
  
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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:41pm
  I”ll tell you why he called her Orca. She voted for a known communist with tyrannical ambitions just because he was black (half black-joke) so she could poke her finger into the eye of the white man. She is all about taking from the workers and giving to the deadbeats. Just like 96% of blacks. So she deserves derision.
  
  Report this comment
00100111
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:56pm
I’m sorry, but I really just don’t care.

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zapparules
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:49pm
Really? You need a supposed body language expert to tell you anything more than you need to know about the total failure of a man that is Armstrong?

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lwoot
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:49pm
I know this may not get received well but I could care less if they do or don’t dope. They can have the doping competitions and the non-doping competitions for all I care. Whatever. The only part of this that even effects me is any money or time spent on my dime (taxpayer money) to address it.

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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:46pm
Who cares, this is what serves you people right for worshipping athletes? For what, so we can have orgies at the Olympics and keep the breeding pool alive and well? Where is David Letterman, the top ten reasons why Mr. Armstrong should not have “x, y, z”?

We should spend more time with our mothers and wives, instead of worrying about pro athletes?

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1HonestInjun
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:42pm
Body language experts, psychic experts, and palm readers are all in the same class. If they are
so good, why aren’t they all millionaires from picking lotto numbers?

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- truthnstuff
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 4:13pm
  Exactly right! Just a bunch of scamsters.
  
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65Mustang
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:40pm
Did not watch but by everything that has been shown, I don’t believe him for a minute. He destroyed people in the process to become what he is…nothing.

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Silversmith
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:37pm
What a disappointment this guy is. I really wanted to believe him. And all that time, bold faced lying to all. It’s really quite amazing, his commitment to selling that story.

Over him. NEXT.

Silversmith

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- Cavallo
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:45pm
  I sort of wonder if he might be mentally deranged, or sociopathic. He really let me down. I believed him when he said he didn’t do it. I wanted to believe him, wanted to believe in him. To believe that in the triumph of the human spirit that could fight through multiple cancers, and still win. But he was a cheat, a liar, and a manipulative self aggrandizing bully. He’s going to have to take years to gain forgiveness for his betrayal of so many people, and if he is the sociopath that I suspect, that will never come, because he’s not really sorry for it.
  
  Report this comment
- AmericaMustBeFree
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 2:56pm
  Don’t they all! That is what happens when you put these people on a pedestal.. think of all the other sports people, actors, even our lawmakers who have faced the truth after being caught in a lie! Always comabative.. “I never had sex with that woman”! They’re never really apologetic are they!
  
  Report this comment
- Magyar
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:05pm
  I agree 100% with you!
  
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- zapparules
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 3:10pm
  CAVALLO
  You WANTED to believe him and believe in him.
  It is no wonder so many fall for the ‘promises’ of god and religion. So many simply want to believe. So many easily ‘just believe’.
  Man gets involved and distorts the ‘good’ of ‘it’ all. ‘It’ being so many things – anything really. God – religion / Sport – competition / business – commerce.
  The greed and deceit of man is so pervasive in our lives it is disgusting. So often so because folks are ‘trained’ to believe they need to be considered ‘successful’ to be of value.
  
  And just to note CAVALLO…
  Forgiveness doesn’t need to take any length of time to be given.
  Forgiveness can be given in an instant – and it is NOT reliant upon if the one being forgiven actually is repentant. (Well – perhaps only to god.)
  Can not – should not – one forgive those who harm (or seek to) harm us? Is that not what Jesus taught?
  Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
  Was not that the KEY message at THE MOST critical time of Jesus’s existence?
  
  Boy that msg sure seems to need to be applied to Armstrong.
  
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