Ryan Lochte is a part of the US swim team with a total of six gold medals. He is someone millions of people look up to as a role model. During the 2016 Rio Olympics, he was involved in a scandal where he told reporters he was robbed at gunpoint at a gas station. What happened was the complete opposite, as many of you know. He was reportedly belligerently drunk with a few of his teammates and vandalized a bathroom at the Rio gas station. Huge sponsors such as Speedo and Ralph Lauren dropped their contracts with Lochte. He was indicted by the Rio police on reporting a falsified robbery.

Why would an Olympic athlete, who is second behind Michael Phelps, lie about such a thing? It is one thing to exaggerate a situation, but what he exaggerated wasn’t even close to what happened. He publicly apologized on Twitter, but most weren’t buying it. Do you think his apology was sincere?

I recently found out the cast for the new season of Dancing With The Stars, and I was shocked to see Ryan Lochte listed among the other celebrities. Someone who fabricated a crime should not be allowed to participate. It made me wonder why they would allow him to be part of the cast; he is not a role model, he is a public liar. According to Rob Wade, executive producer of the BBC Worldwide production, Lochte was signed to be on the show before the Olympics even started. Wade says, “We use the show as a place where people can come and tell their story…We certainly didn’t feel like we should be pulling the offer away from him.” Not really sure what “story” he has to tell…

Wade even stated that he thinks the lie will blow over in time for the show's September 12^th airing. I don’t think this was a light issue and honestly, he is probably being kept for the ratings. America loves a good villain, just liked “Bad Chad” on this past season of The Bachelorette. It keeps viewers watching and wondering why they are even allowed on the show. That’s what reality TV is about!

His partner, Cheryl Burke, spoke out about her thoughts on him being on the show. According to People Magazine, she said: “I think Dancing with the Stars is all about redemption… And I think everyone should give him that chance.” What do you guys think? Do you think America will let his actions blow over? Will those actions effect his time on the hit reality dancing show? I don't see this show redeeming Lochte of his actions. There is something much larger at play here than him "being able to tell his story". White privilege, possibly? Or a hit TV show trying to get more ratings? I see either as a possibility.