Before taking the stage for the first time on Dancing with the Stars on Monday night, Olympian Ryan Lochte made it clear that he was hoping to use the show to find redemption.
However, it appears not everyone was ready to give it to him—and while he and dance partner Cheryl Burke were receiving feedback from the judges after their foxtrot, it appears as if either one or multiple people attempted to rush the stage to attack him.
ABC did not show footage of the alleged attack, but judge Carrie Ann Inaba can be seen getting progressively more flustered and yelling out, "Excuse me! Hey! Back off!" After security stepped in to break up whatever was happening, they quickly cut to commercial. This tweet gives you a better sense of the action:
After returning to the show so that Ryan and Cheryl could get the rest of the judges' feedback, the swimmer made it clear he was a little bit shaken up by the whole thing and hurt that it happened.
Neither Ryan nor ABC has yet to release a statement on the matter—but you can watch the pair's performance below.
Update 9/12, 8:00 p.m.: Multiple sources now report that two male protestors wearing shirts with a cross through Ryan Lochte's name stormed the stage on Monday, walking in front of host Tom Bergeron and yelling into the cameras. They were quickly tackled by security and escorted offstage.
"I was backstage and when I heard the commotion I ran to the side of the stage and I was just in shock," dancer Lindsay Arnold told People. "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."
"Ryan was backstage and close to tears," contestant Jana Kramer added. "Everyone makes mistakes and I really hope America gets to see the guy we are all getting to know, which is a really, really nice guy."
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From: Cosmopolitan US
