Craig Sjodin/ABCThe season premiere of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars was interrupted by shouts of protesters, including two men who rushed the dance floor Monday night during the judges’ critique of beleaguered U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte.
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But it seems not everyone is willing to forgive the 32-year-old athlete for his actions as two furious individuals lunged towards the floor while Ryan and his professional partner Cheryl Burke were receiving feedback from the judges on their foxtrot to the song “Call Me Irresponsible”.
The video also showed at least four others in the audience wearing anti-Lochte shirts.
“I’m doing good”, Lochte said of the incident after the commercial break.
“So many feelings are going through my head right now”, he admitted, with a camera pan to his mom who was visibly emotional. Preciado said police did not know what the protestors’ motivations or intentions were. Inaba yelled “Hey, back off” when the protesters approached off-screen. I came out here and wanted to do something I am completely not comfortable with. “This is a safe place for people to learn a new skill and seek redemption or start a new chapter in their life and that’s what Ryan is trying to do and I just felt so defensive that someone would try and ruin that for him and for everyone watching, so I took it upon myself to make sure they were escorted out”. They both wore T-shirts that contained a red circle with a slash going through the word Lochte. But I looked at Cheryl and she just smiled and said, ‘You just did what you said you can’t do.
When the show came back from break, Bergeron said they had to go to break because they had a “little incident”, and he thanked the show’s security for its fast response.
A spokesperson for the company that produces “Dancing with the Stars”, told CNN that “the matter is now being handled by the authorities”.
Van Winkle also offered Lochte his support. Me and Ryan have gotten the pleasure to know each other and he is an wonderful guy. “He won the gold medal for this country, folks”. The pair “unlawfully entered the stage in an attempt to confront Mr. Lochte”, Lopez said.
“You know, you have to keep pushing, have another great week next week”, he said.
Ryan Lochte was on the Dancing with the Stars stage when a man apparently ran onto the stage and threw something at him. It sucks to have somebody like that in the crowd do those kinds of things.
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ABC’s Dancing with the Stars returns Monday, September 19.
