2 men rushed out of the audience and got within three feet of disgraced Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte during Monday night’s broadcast of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.
Lochte, 32, had just completed the foxtrot with dance partner Cheryl Burke, and were waiting for the judge’s scores when the 2 protesters rushed out of the audience.
The men, believed to be Brazilians, were tackled to the floor by security guards.
The protesters were part of a small group of people in the audience wearing t-shirts with “NO LOCHTE” handwritten on the front.
Four female protesters repeatedly shouted “LIAR!” during the melee. The females were escorted out by security.
“We better take a break,” said host Tom Bergeron as ABC quickly cut to a commercial.
Sam Sododeh, 48, and Barzeen Soroudi, 40, were arrested on suspicion of trespassing.
“We had to go to break because we had a little incident. I would like to thank our security team for staying in shape,” said Bergeron after the show resumed.
Bergeron asked Lochte how he was doing. “I’m doing good. So many feelings are going through my head right now,” Lochte replied.
He added: “A little hurt. I came out here and I wanted to do something I was completely uncomfortable with, and I did.”
Lochte’s dance partner Cheryl Burke was visibly shaken. “I’m shocked and I’m hurt for Ryan,” she said.
Head judge Len Goodman told Ryan he performed at a “high level” in the dance competition.
Lochte has apologized numerous times for lying about a fake robbery attempt in Brazil during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Olympic gold medalist admitted he “over exaggerated” the details for attention.
He lost major sponsors and was banned from competing in world swimming events for 10 months. He was also required to forfeit $100,000 in bonuses.
Other celebrity dancers on DWTS included rapper Vanilla Ice, 48; singer/songwriter Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, 57; Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, 16; and Kanye West’s former girlfriend Amber Rose.
A former stripper by trade, Rose, 32, was surprisingly stiff and clumsy as she struggled to dance the foxtrot with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 36.
“I’m not that girl,” said Rose, who obviously didn’t put in much work at rehearsals.
#AmberRose tonight on #DWTS pic.twitter.com/ymLIa1AimZ
— Tha Celebritea News (@thacelebritea) September 13, 2016
