Dancing with the Stars

The protesters who bum-rushed Ryan Lochte on "Dancing With the Stars" could end up behind bars now that prosecutors are hitting them with 2 charges.

We've learned the L.A. City Attorney's Office is charging Sam Sotoodeh and Barzeen Soroudi with leaving a spectator area and entering upon a stage, as well as interfering with a performance -- both are misdemeanors.

As we first reported, the protesters went to 'DWTS' because they blamed Ryan for a family member getting arrested in Brazil.

No one's going to San Quentin -- the ballroom floor got the worst of the protest -- but if convicted, they could get up to 6 months in county jail, and a $1,000 fine.

The real reason the Ryan Lochte protesters went to 'DWTS' is because one of their family members got arrested in Rio, and for some reason they're trying to blame Lochte for the mess.

We've learned Justin Sotoodeh McNeil -- nephew and cousin of the 2 stage crashers -- was busted 3 days after Lochte claimed he was held up at gunpoint. McNeil was allegedly selling fake tickets to a Team USA Beach Volleyball match ... according to Brazilian reports.

Cops say he had 51 tickets and a fake ID. He was arrested and indicted for embezzlement and document forgery. He's out now, but authorities are holding his passport until he meets a list of requirements ... including paying a $264 fine.

Sources connected to the family tell us they think Lochtegate made Justin, and other Americans, a target for cops. We're told they deny he did anything wrong.

Lochte's team thinks it's laughable the family's blaming him, when Justin was busted for a felony -- not to mention the 2 guys getting arrested this week at 'Dancing.'

Norm Macdonald says the security guard who violently took out the Ryan Lochte protester at "Dancing with the Stars" is just like Ray Lewis ... except he didn't kill anyone.

Norm was at LAX with Fred Stoller when we showed them the crazy video of the Lochte incident ... and that's when Norm did what Norm does, he cracked a hilarious joke.

For the record ... Ray was charged with murder back in 2000 following an incident after a Super Bowl party in Atlanta. But the charge was dismissed and he later pled guilty to obstruction of justice.

The protesters who rushed Ryan Lochte on "Dancing with the Stars" wanted to get revenge for the swimmer embarrassing Americans at the Olympics ... and they say they'd do it again.

59-year-old Sam Sotoodeh and 25-year-old Barzeen Soroudi -- who are related -- explained their antics when they got out of jail Tuesday ... still sporting their "No Lochte" shirts. Barzeen says he was in Rio for the games, and Lochtegate made him a target while he was down there.

Even though he put himself in the line of fire with the protest ... Sotoodeh has a major issue with the way security guards took him down on the dance floor. Watch, everything about his reaction reeks of lawsuit.

Ryan Lochte was on the verge of being attacked Monday night during the live season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" ... and the men who rushed the stage were taken down by security and detained.

Lochte had just finished a foxtrot with Cheryl Burke and they were standing next to Tom Bergeron to get the judges' feedback, when a group in the audience ripped their shirts open to reveal the round symbol for "No Lochte" on their t-shirts. The group was booing the swimmer when one rushed the stage.

Both men were arrested for criminal trespassing.

Ryan Lochte was a man of few words after he learned he's being benched for 10 months.

Lochte was on a plane Wednesday afternoon when TMZ Sports broke the story about the USOC's decision to suspend him. When he landed at LAX he was stoic, declining to say if he felt the punishment was too harsh, especially given the 6 months Michael Phelps got for 2 DUIs.

He had more to say about "Dancing With the Stars" ... he has a bad case of the nerves, and says why.

Ryan Lochte's a "loving" and "caring" person ... people just don't realize it, YET.

TMZ Sports talked to Lochte at LAX Tuesday ... when we asked if his upcoming appearance on "Dancing With the Stars" would help repair his image.

(In case ya missed it ... dude's got a little bit of a PR problem.)

Lochte's answer is really interesting. It's clear he believes he's totally misunderstood.

We also asked Ryan about his skills on the dance floor ... and whether his work in the pool gives him an edge in the ballroom.

MEGATRON IS BACK ... kinda ... 'cause Calvin Johnson is competing again, wearing his tights again, but this time as a new contestant on "Dancing With the Stars."

ABC just announced the new cast to the world ... making it official that Johnson will be following in the fancy footsteps of gridiron greats like Hines Ward, Emmitt Smith, and Jerry Rice.

Johnson shocked the football world when he retired earlier this year at 30 ... but never fear Detroit fans, you can watch him once again going head to head against Vanilla Ice & Ryan Lochte.

Erin Andrews is on thin ice with Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy after spilling the beans on the couple's baby news -- their SECRET baby news.

Erin's loose lips struck during Monday's rehearsals for the "Dancing with the Stars" finale. Our production sources say Erin was mic'd up when she walked up to Peta and Maksim and congratulated them ... and everyone heard it.

We're told the couple was pissed since they hadn't told some of their closest friends and family yet -- and they were still planning a big announcement.

Erin apologized, but we're told she kept trying to blow it off as a joke ... which only made it worse.

Ironically, the next night, Peta did some blabbing of her own. After she and dancing partner Nyle DiMarco won the 'DWTS' title, she posted on Facebook ... before it aired on the west coast. Some fans immediately ripped her on social media.

At least Erin can make up for her mistake with an expensive baby gift.

Donald Trump's candidacy will have an impact on the "Dancing With the Stars" finale -- the show's doubling its police detail because his daughter will be in the audience.

Sources close to production tell us Tiffany Trump will be there to support her mom, Marla Maples. The Donald's ex-wife was a contestant this season. We're told there will be 17 officers patrolling in and around the studio tonight, instead of the usual 9.

There's no specific threat, our sources say it's just precautionary.

There could be a serious battle brewing in the NY Giants locker room ... a dance battle ... 'cause Rashad Jennings says he'd take out Odell Beckham Jr. if they both end up on 'DTWS.'

Rashad previously told us his dream was to do 'DWTS' ... but lately Odell's name is connected to the show ... after he crashed Von Miller's rehearsal and drew rave reviews from Miller's dance partner.

So, when we saw Rashad out in NYC we asked ... if both men got their shot on the same season of 'Dancing' who would come away as the MVP of the mambo?

Check the clip -- Rashad ain't backing down from OBJ ... basically saying the same thing Gabrielle Union told Kirsten Dunst so many years ago.

Could Odell Beckham take over for Von Miller on "Dancing with the Stars" next year?

Von's partner sure hopes so ... with Lindsay Arnold saying the guy would CRUSH it on the show.

Everyone knows Odell is a dance-aholic ... the guy breaks out moves in clubs, on the street, at Drake's house ... everywhere.

In fact, he even crashed Lindsay and Von's rehearsal earlier this season -- and impressed her so much, she wants to partner up with the guy!!

Check out the clip ... seems like a no-brainer for both Odell and the show.

Erin Andrews attempted to fly under the radar with an alias -- but a photog broke the code.

The "Dancing with the Stars" and FOX Sports host was spotted at LAX with her limo driver, who clearly failed Covert Operations 101 -- since her fake name, "Emmy Bean," was in clear sight after they met.

Cheryl Burke regrets telling the world Ian Ziering annoyed her so much she wanted to slit her wrists.

Burke's backtracking on comments she made on the "Allegedly" podcast Saturday where she confessed being with her former "Dancing with the Stars" partner 24/7 made her want to kill herself.

Burke tweeted her regret about using a phrase "that seemingly makes light of suicide" and apologized for making a mockery of those who've struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Cheryl Burke's got a deep-seated hatred for her former "Dancing With the Stars" partner Ian Ziering.

Burke revealed being around Ziering 24/7 drove her so nuts it made her "want to slit [her] wrists." The grizzly confession went down on Matt Weiss and Theo Von's "Allegedly" podcast.

Burke and Ziering were eliminated in the semi-finals back in season 4 -- but according to Burke, she practically begged producers to give her the axe way before then.

Von Miller had a special guest at his "Dancing with the Stars" rehearsals ... Odell Beckham Jr. -- who ended up teaching Von's pro dance partner a thing or two about hip-hop.

After the two NFL stars had their own 2-man dance party ... Von's partner Lindsay Arnold joined the turn up -- and Odell led the crew in a mini-dance tutorial.