The condemnation that has rained down on Ryan Lochte has been severe, particularly from high-profile members of the Twitterati.
The saga has unfolded over the past week to become one of the most talked about stories of the 2016 Olympic Games.
The US Olympic swimmer initially claimed he and his members of his team were robbed at gunpoint at a Rio petrol station, but CCTV contradicted their account. As questions continue to swirl over events, Lochte has issued an apology for his “behaviour” and for “not being more careful and candid” but this has done little to quell the anger emanating from some corners.
“This was a situation that could and should have been avoided. I accept responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned some valuable lessons,” he said.
His lengthy statement did not sit well with some, including the unimpressed Hole singer Courtney Love, who immediately replied: “Grow the f**k up.”
Lochte’s statement issued overnight continued: “It’s traumatic to be out late with your friends in a foreign country — with a language barrier — and have a stranger point a gun at you and demand money to let you leave, but regardless of the behaviour of anyone else that night, I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that I am sorry to my teammates, my fans, my fellow competitors, my sponsors and the hosts of this great event.
“I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that I am sorry.”
On Thursday, Chrissy Teigen made her feelings on the matter clear: “I personally cannot bring myself to give two sh*ts about Ryan Lochte's gas station fight.” Her focus was instead on the distressing image of Omran Daqneesh - a Syrian boy whose image of him, covered in dust, blood staring blankly at the back of an ambulance after an air strike, shocked the world.
