‘DWTS’ host: Lochte protest was shocking
“Dancing With the Stars” host Tom Bergeron said everyone in the studio was shocked when two men rushed the stage to protest swimmer Ryan Lochte after his performance on the ABC reality competition.
On ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, Bergeron described the incident as “really unnerving.”
The two men, wearing anti-Lochte T-shirts, were arrested on suspicion of criminal trespassing, Los Angeles police spokesman Liliana Preciado said. They had rushed the stage while Lochte was getting his scores for his debut performance during Monday’s live installment of the celebrity dance competition.
“GMA” aired video, not shown during the live broadcast, of one of the men being tackled onstage by security. The video also showed at least four others in the audience wearing antiLochte shirts who were escorted out.
Police identified the men onstage 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. Preciado said police did not know what the protesters’ motivations or intentions were.
Lochte and teammates have faced criticism since they were involved in an early-morning drunken encounter at a gas station in Rio de Janeiro during the Olympics last month. Lochte