HOLY COW. Audience members rushed on stage and threw something at controversial contestant and Olympic swipper Ryan Lochte after his dance with partner Cheryl Burke. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba was in the middle of her critique when the attempted assault happened. She paused and asked the troublemakers to back off. TV viewers couldn’t see what was happening on stage but security was visible rushing on stage to dispatch the assailants.
Once the stage was cleared, Host Tom Bergeron immediately sent the show to commercial. Ryan and Cheryl both looked fine, but shaken up.
“So many feelings are going through my head right now, a little hurt,” Lochte said after the commercial break. “But you know, I came out here, I wanted to do something I’m completely not comfortable with out here. And I did, and I came out with a big smile and I have the best dance partner.”
Via TVGuide
I’ll be updating this post with more info as it comes.
UPDATE: According to Entertainment Weekly:
Two men stormed the stage of the Dancing with the Stars premiere Monday to protest Ryan Lochte’s participation on the ABC show.
The men wore t-shirts that featured the Olympian’s name crossed out. Four women wearing the same shirt encouraged them from the audience just as judge Carrie Ann Inaba began to give her critique.
Off camera, the crowd chanted in support of Lochte as pro Derek Hough rushed the ballroom in an attempt to remove the women. Several security guards, meanwhile, stormed the stage and tackled the men — one of whom fell back into Lochte, Burke, and Bergeron while the cameras were rolling.
Witnesses says Lochte looked stunned while Burke’s eyes filled with tears.
Added Jana Kramer to PEOPLE, “Ryan was backstage and close to tears. “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.”
Twitter video taken from audience of assailant being tackled.
Anti-Lochte protestor tackled to the ground at #DWTS pic.twitter.com/ATWrFb34nK
— Patrick Gomez (@PatrickGomezLA) September 13, 2016
Closer look and their “pals” in the audience
Another angle of Lochte protesters on #DWTS #DancingWiththeStars
Why does this remind me of a Trump rally ? pic.twitter.com/YKCwT5dirE
— DCHomos (@DCHomos) September 13, 2016
Hmmm…
They look ridiculous. I mean. Seriously dudes. What Lochte did in Rio doesn’t warrant an attack or bodily harm. It’s not that deep. As frightening and upsetting It must have been for Lochte at the time, in the end the incident will likely spark sympathy from viewers. His rehabilitation mission is off to a good start.
Cuffed for rushing the stage at #DWTS during @ryanlochte‘s dance pic.twitter.com/rjueIKuLsZ
— Jason Nathanson (@ABCNewsJason) September 13, 2016
FULL REPORT from ABC News with ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE
The two men were arrested for criminal trespassing. Dancer Derek Hough came out from behind stage to call out the women sitting in the audience with ant-Lochte t shirts. They were escorted out of the studio. The men said they ambushed Lochte because they “put Americans in danger.” BTS interview with host Tom Bergeron.
The Associated Press names the two men:
Police identified the men on stage as Sam Satoodeh, 59, and Barzeen Soroudi, 25. The two were arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor trespassing and held on $1,000 bail each. A message at a number for Satoodeh was not immediately returned Tuesday. A number for Soroudi could not be found.
The incident begins at about the 3:11 mark.
UPDATE: Cheryl Burke posted an Instagram message this afternoon:
Lochte said to E News:
“It’s hard,” he tells E! News’ Sibley Scoles, adding that it felt like “someone reached inside and ripped my heart out and stepped on it.”