Shamed American Olympian, Ryan Lochte was left devastated after two men protesting against his appearance on Dancing with the Stars stormed the ballroom after the swimmer’s first dance. The six-time Olympian had just finished a Foxtrot when two men walked in front of the cameras wearing white Lochte t-shirts with a red circle and a line through his name.
Ryan Lochte’s first appearance on Dancing with the Stars didn’t go well
Despite winning a gold medal at Rio 2016, Lochte left Brazil in a state of shame after lying to police about a fake robbery to cover up vandalising a gas station bathroom.
The 12-time Olympic medal winning swimmer has been suspended from swimming for ten months and lost four endorsement deals in the wake of the scandal.
MORE: Ryan Lochte’s Lies Land Him A Ten-Month Ban
However, trying to turn a new leaf, the athlete is part of the line-up for the latest series of Dancing with the Stars but his antics came back to haunt him during the show’s premiere.
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba was giving her critique of Lochte and his professional partner Cheryl Burke as two men walked in front of the cameras.
MORE: Ryan Lochte Dropped By Speedo USA Over Rio Robbery
Behind the scenes, the older of the two male protesters walked in front of host Tom Bergeron and shouted into the camera.
He was then tackled by security guards and pushed into Lochte, Burke and Bergeron as they were listening to the review of the couple’s first dance.
The show then cut to a commercial break as Burke began to cry and Lochte appeared shaken up while the audience chanted his name.
Talking to PEOPLE, professional dancer Lindsay Arnold said: “I was backstage and when I heard the commotion I ran to the side of the stage and I was just in shock.
“I couldn’t believe it was happening. I think it’s a shame that people would feel the need to do that.
“Ryan is just a guy who is coming here to entertain and get a fresh start and it’s sad that such a happy night of dance was disrupted like that.”
