While no one was hurt during the incident that occurred during the taping, the Olympic swimmer says it feels like someone 'ripped my heart out and stepped on it.'
- Sep 13, 2016
AceShowbiz - "Dancing with the Stars" season 23 premiere was marred by angry protesters. During the taping on Monday, September 12, two men wearing anti-Ryan Lochte T-shirts rushed the stage apparently to attack Ryan, but security managed to control situation before no one got hurt.
E! News reports that the audience members who caused the commotion in the "DWTS" ballroom have been placed under arrest for trespassing at CBS studios on the "DWTS" set. While the whole incident was not shown on camera as host Tom Bergeron quickly cut to commercial break, the Los Angeles Police Department says security handcuffed the two individuals to stop them.
"LAPD was called to the studio where we took over the investigation and transported the two individuals back to the station for booking and processing," the authority says.
Ryan, who appeared to be shaken up after the incident, has opened up about how he felt. "It's hard," he tells E! News, adding that it felt like "someone reached inside and ripped my heart out and stepped on it."
The disgraced Olympian swimmer previously said after the show returned from commercial break, "I'm doing good. So many feelings are going through my head right now. A little hurt. I came out here and I wanted to do something I was completely uncomfortable with, and I did."
His partner Cheryl Burke, who was stunned during the ambush, said, "I'm hurt for Ryan. He's sweet, he's kind. He's working his butt off. I hope people give him a chance."
Calling "DWTS" his "home," Derek Hough couldn't stay still when the protesters rushed the stage. During the commercial break, the pro dancer ran out on stage and yelled "get them out of here" to security. "You need to get your negativity out of here," he also shouted to a group of men and women in the audience who continued chanting "liar."
this is why I love derek hough pic.twitter.com/nUYkmbs9je
— #markballasisthegoat (@ballasholker) September 13, 2016
To PEOPLE, he explains his action, "This is my home and I was just so shocked that people would come here and be so negative." He continues, "This is a safe place for people to learn a new skill and seek redemption or start a new chapter in their life and that's what Ryan is trying to do and I just felt so defensive that someone would try and ruin that for him and for everyone watching, so I took it upon myself to make sure they were escorted out. I wanted to protect my home."
He also says in a video posted on Twitter, "The people out there are absolute cowards and just purely foolish. 'Dancing with the Stars' is a positive place. It's a loving place. This is our home. You don't bring that to our home... It's just unacceptable." He adds, "There's so much negativity go on in this world, we need to get behind each other" and forgive each other instead of pointing finger. He ends his message by urging people to stay "positive."
"let's be a positive force. let's be a force for good" �����°��¯��¿��½��¯��¿��½��¯��¿��½�����°��¯��¿��½��¯��¿��½�����¼ cannot express my love for this man enough. pic.twitter.com/IgVZ9l2l6S
— #markballasisthegoat (@ballasholker) September 13, 2016
