As Ryan Lochte received the judge’s critique for his first performance on “Dancing with the Stars,” he was interrupted by audience members who rushed on stage.
ABC News reported that two men got on the ballroom dance floor and at least four other people yelled anti-Lochte chants.
Although the show was live, the actual incident was not shown on camera by ABC.
Throughout the brief incident, the camera stayed focused on judge Carrie Ann Inaba, who yelled “Excuse me!” multiple times as clamor rose in the audience and onstage.
“Off! Off!” she yelled, gesturing for the intruders to get off stage.
The network went to a commercial break, but the camera briefly showed Lochte and his dancing partner, Cheryl Burke, as both appeared flustered and surprised.
“Dancing with the Stars” host Tom Bergeron addressed the interruption after the commercial break.
“We had to go to break because we had a little incident,” he said, although he didn’t clarify any further. Bergeron thanked the security team on the show.
He also asked Lochte how he was doing after the interruption.
“So many feelings are going through my head right now,” said the Olympic swimmer. “I’m a little hurt.”
CNN has reached out to ABC and “Dancing with the Stars” for comment.
Lochte joined season 23 of “Dancing With The Stars” after a spate of negative publicity that the 32-year-old received for admitting he “over-exaggerated” claims that he and fellow swimmers were robbed at gunpoint in Rio.
CNN crews captured one of the suspects outside of the event being led away in handcuffs.