Protesters Storm DWTS Stage During Ryan Lochte Dance

Cheryl Burke, a former professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars (DWTS), recounted a frightening incident during Season 23 when she was partnered with Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte shortly after his controversial 2016 Rio Olympics scandal. During a live show, protesters wearing anti-Lochte T-shirts rushed the stage, causing panic as Burke and others feared they were armed; the security team quickly subdued and detained the protesters. The protesters were arrested and ordered to stay away from Lochte, who had been suspended from the U.S. swim team after being charged with filing a false robbery report related to the Rio incident, though the charges were later dismissed. Despite the disruption and controversy, Burke described Lochte as a "sweet man" and recalled the security guard's swift action with admiration. The incident highlighted how Lochte's Olympic controversy spilled over into his participation on DWTS, impacting the show's atmosphere during that season. The footage of the protest was cut from the live broadcast but later circulated, illustrating the tense moment on the CBS studio stage.