'Dancing with the Stars' season 23 news, spoilers: Ryan Lochte calls 'DWTS' his new family; protesters speak up

Barzeen Soroudi and Sam Satoodeh, the two men who stormed the stage on Monday night's "Dancing with the Stars" ("DWTS") following Ryan Lochte's performance, said that they did so to protest the Olympian's participation in the reality dancing competition.

According to the two, who were jailed shortly after the incident, Lochte had embarrassed Americans after lying to Brazilian authorities during this year's Rio Olympics.

"We didn't agree with Walt Disney Company choosing Lochte to represent Americans," Soroudi told the press after he and Satoodeh were released from prison on Tuesday, Sept. 13. "Yes, he did receive gold medals, but what he did in Rio did not represent Americans well," Soroudi added.

The two, who were arrested for misdemeanor trespassing after their "DWTS" stunt, also complained that the show's security personnel had used unnecessary force when dealing with them, resulting in bruises. According to Satoodeh, he wasn't even going towards Lochte when he approached the "DWTS" stage. He also claimed that security personnel had punched him after he was taken off the stage.

"Our purpose is to get the message out that Lochte is a coward, a liar and under Brazilian law, a criminal," Satoodeh told ABC News. According to Soroudi, Lochte's actions in Rio had insulted Brazilians and made conditions very difficult for Americans who live there.

Lochte and several American swimmers claimed that they were robbed at gunpoint during the Rio Olympics last month. He later apologized and admitted that it was all a lie meant to cover up the fact that he and his teammates had trashed a gas station while intoxicated.

Meanwhile, the disgraced Olympic swimmer recently addressed the event. In a statement shared via his Twitter and Instagram accounts, Lochte thanked everyone for the support he got after the "DWTS" protest. He also said that he had found a new family in the "DWTS" cast.

"When I was asked to do the show, the one thing that I kept hearing was that it was like joining a big family," he wrote. "After Monday's incident, I now know what that means.

"...I am dedicated to my new family and to working hard to do my best," he added.

"Dancing with the Stars" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.