Controversial Olympic swim champion Ryan Lochte received a not-so-warm welcome during his Dancing With The Stars debut Monday night.
Lochte was one of several public figures to take the dance floor during the show’s premiere. But when he made his way over to the judges’s table for feedback with dance partner Cheryl Burke, he was unexpectedly greeted by two protestors who stormed the ballroom floor before being apprehended by security.
CNN news cameras captured images of the two men outside as they were being led away, where they were reportedly seen outfitted in t-shirts bearing Lochte’s name with a circle around it and a slash through the middle.
An audience member captured part of the incident on video.
Another angle of Lochte protesters on #DWTS #DancingWiththeStars
— DCHomos (@DCHomos) September 13, 2016
Why does this remind me of a Trump rally 🤔 pic.twitter.com/YKCwT5dirE
A spokesperson for the Dancing With The Stars production company told the news outlet that the “matter is now being handled by authorities.”
Lochte received a host of negative media attention during the 2016 Olympics in Brazil after it was revealed that he lied about being robbed at gun point while out on the town with a group of other U.S. swimmers in Rio.
Lochte later claimed that he had “exaggerated” the story because he was drunk.
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Rio police officials offered additional insight into what really took place, reporting that Lochte and his teammates vandalized a gas station bathroom, which was the real reason they were stopped by law enforcement.
Lochte’s demeanor before and after he admitted to fabricating the story was highly criticized by many who felt he used his high profile public status to paint himself as a victim in a situation where he was actually in the wrong.