Disgraced Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte said he was “hurt” after two protesters stormed onto the stage as he was making his Dancing with the Stars debut on live television.
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As Lochte finished his performance with professional partner Cheryl Burke and waited for the judges to critique their moves, men in white T-shirts rushed the stage.
The video also showed at least four others in the audience wearing anti-Lochte shirts.
When the show returned, host Bergeron explained they were interrupted by “a little incident” and thanked the ABC series’ security team “for staying in shape”.
After seconds of confusion, presenter Tom Bergeron was heard telling viewers that they’d be cutting to a break.
After the show, Lochte told CNN that he was saddened by what happened.
Lochte and three other U.S. Olympic swimmers – Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen – stopped at a gas station in Rio de Janeiro and attempted to use the bathroom the early morning hours of August 14.
“So many feeling are going through my head right now”, he said, as reported by BBC news. “I came out with a big smile, and I have the best damn partner”. “I’m a little hurt”.
He said to Lochte: ‘Are you OK you guys?
“I think it was just saddening and disheartening more than anything because this is such a positive show and we’re all about putting people in a positive light”, she said.
The protesters were angry over the 12-time Olympic medallist’s alleged lies during the Rio games when he “over-exaggerated” claims that he and three fellow USA swimmers were robbed at gunpoint during a night out.
Bergeron added: “The mood in the room was definitely in Ryan’s corner after these guys were escorted out”.
Meanwhile, Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy and race vehicle driver James Hinchcliffe and his partner Sharna Burgess tied for first with scores of 31.
Earlier in the night, Vanilla Ice (real name: Robert Matthew Van Winkle) and Witney Carson lit up the dance floor with their take on the cha-cha.
Amber Rose agreed, saying, “Everyone makes mistakes in their life and it’s just not fair that somebody came out and ruined his moment”.
“It’s hard”, Ryan told E!
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Dancing With the Stars premiered on Monday and America got to meet the stars that will be hoping to foxtrot their way to the hallowed Mirror Ball.
