In this still image from video Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ryan Lochte of the US gives an interview to Globo TV at their studios in New York City, August 20, 2016.
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Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte made his debut on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” on Monday but his moment in the spotlight was interrupted when two men rushed the stage.
The two men, who were wearing anti-Lochte T-shirts, were tackled by security guards on the dancefloor as the USA swimmer and his dance partner Cheryl Burke received their scores.
ABC News reporter Jason Nathanson showed a photo on Twitter of two men in anti-Lochte T-shirts in handcuffs.
Lochte joined Season 23 of “Dancing With The Stars” after a spate of negative publicity he received for admitting he “over-exaggerated” claims that he and fellow swimmers were robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro.
The swimmer told Bergeron that “so many feelings are going through my head right now”. “But you know, I came out here, I wanted to do something I’m completely not comfortable with out here”. The four or five women in the audience who shouted at Lochte were escorted out.
LAPD confirmed to ET that the men, ages 40 and 48, did not have valid tickets to the DWTS taping, and were booked for trespassing.
While what exactly happened wasn’t immediately clear to viewers at home, those in attendance, including former DWTS contestant Danica McKellar, later posted about the incident on social media.
Lochte said he was doing good but he was “a little hurt” by what had unfolded.
Critics have held up Lochte as an example of ugly Americanism since Rio, and some have argued that he didn’t deserve to be rewarded for the public embarrassment with a high-profile casting on one of the country’s more popular television shows.
“I don’t think any of us are and I think that to bring that in here, that doesn’t belong in here”.
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He said: “I basically told them aggressively that they need to leave because you don’t do that here. He’s great, he’s kind and he’s just here working his butt off and trying to do what he’s supposed to do, which is dancing, so I hope people give him a chance”, he said. Len Goodman said Lochte had performed to a high level and people should be proud of him.
