Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Shouting ‘liar, liar,’ protesters disrupt Lochte’s dancing debut

September 13, 2016 | By Reuters
Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte of the U.S. at a news conference in New York

(Reuters) – “Dancing with the Stars” host Tom Bergeron said on Tuesday he was shocked and unnerved by protesters who shouted “liar, liar” and rushed the stage after a live performance by Ryan Lochte, the gold-medal U.S. swimmer who said he had been robbed at gunpoint at the Rio Olympics.

The two protesters were tackled by security and arrested for trespass and other people in the audience booed before being removed by security, the ABC network and police said.

Advertisement

Lochte appeared shaken by the incident on Monday night’s show in Los Angeles. Afterward, he told journalists he first thought the disturbance was a joke.

ABC on Tuesday released video of the incident, which was not seen by audiences at home when Bergeron cut to a commercial on Monday night.

It showed two men wearing anti-Lochte T-shirts going on the stage, shouting as they walked near Lochte, while he and dance partner Cheryl Burke were being critiqued by judges after their foxtrot. Four women in the audience, wearing the same T-shirts, booed and were shown leaving. No one was injured.

“We were shocked and we have a very good security system here,” Bergeron told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Tuesday.

In Rio, Lochte said that he and three teammates were robbed and that he had a gun pointed at his head by robbers but it was later revealed that the Olympians had vandalized a gas station after a night of partying and been confronted by security guards.

In the aftermath, Lochte lost all four of his sponsors and was suspended from U.S. swimming competition for 10 months. He apologized for the incident, acknowledged exaggerating his story and said he lied when he said a gun was held to his head.

Bergeron denied the incident was a pre-arranged stunt. “There are always skeptics about everything but look, it wasn’t a bit,” Bergeron said. “It was really unnerving and again, I applaud our security team for making it very short.”

Bergeron said “the mood in the room was definitely in Ryan’s corner after these guys were escorted out.”

The 12-time Olympic medalist is the most high profile celebrity on the 23rd season of “Dancing With the Stars,” which has been a popular venue for those seeking a comeback or trying to change their image.

Lochte and Burke got a respectable score of 24 for their dance but were topped by U.S. Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez and her partner with 31. No one has yet been voted off the show by the audience.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bill Trott)

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC8C0XQ-VIEWIMAGE

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC8C0XR-VIEWIMAGE

← Previous Post Next Post →
Advertisement - Continue reading below
Share  On Facebook

Study Finds Minimum Wage Increases Do Not Negatively Affect Employment Rates

Michigan will still give water to Flint after emergency ends

Dior, in UK for cruise line, says new designer ‘work in progress’

Rapper arrested in shooting at NY City concert that killed one

Burt Kwouk, famed for ‘Pink Panther’ films, dies aged 85

Orlando club was sister’s tribute to gay brother who died of AIDS

Oscars organizers invite new members in diversity push

FAU Poll Shows Floridians Favor Obama Over Trump on Cuba Policy, Doubt Policy Changes Will Help Cuban People

Oklahoma medical examiner rules oilman McClendon’s deadly crash an accident

Children’s Hospitals’ Patient Families to Congress: Protect Medicaid for Children and Reject the BCRA — a Bad Bill for Kids

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy