The Ryan Lochte/U.S. swimmer robbery story continued Wednesday when it was reported that a Brazilian judge is trying to stop some U.S. swimmers from leaving the country and that two swimmers were detained at the airport. With so many eyes peeled to NBC and its Olympics coverage, it’s natural this story would get a reaction out of everyone.
That seemed to be the case on Twitter on Wednesday. With the news that Lochte has already left the country despite the investigation into the robbery still ongoing, the Internet had a little fun with the former E! (What Would Ryan Lochte Do?) star and U.S. swimmer, including movie posters, references to other hoaxes, Brian Williams jokes and more.
Lochte is the highest-profile swimmer involved in this scandal, and as a result, he is getting the most flak on Twitter. It also doesn’t help the former Florida Gator that he is the only swimmer involved in the robbery that has been confirmed left the country.
Just acquired this photo of Ryan Lochte going through security at the Rio de Janeiro airport pic.twitter.com/J8nQulSBm3
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) August 18, 2016
The investigation into this robbery has caused many to question Lochte’s story. And with Twitter, you know someone is bound to bring up Manti Te’o.
"I know for a fact Ryan Lochte got robbed, my girlfriend was there and saw the whole thing."- Manti Te'o pic.twitter.com/ZaOArx0Ucp
— Faux NFL Network™ (@FauxNFLnetwork) August 18, 2016
One of the funniest reactions came via Twitter user @darth, who turned Lochte into the subject of a number of movie posters (including the one at top: full version here).
https://twitter.com/darth/status/766109495877574657
https://twitter.com/darth/status/766100973714538496
Someone else made a Carmen Sandiego reference:
when the hookers and blow run out but just deciding to go home is too boring pic.twitter.com/avXFgZXdg5
— throb gronkowski (@juanyfbaby) August 18, 2016
There were other movie references flying around, too:
The Hunt for Jeah Lochtober
— Lorenzo Cortes ✈️ (@Hoyatexas) August 18, 2016
And to top it all off, Twitter definitely had fun with the fact that NBC was the go-to source for this news Wednesday. Although Brian Williams wasn’t there, that didn’t stop the internet.
https://twitter.com/_Zeets/status/766103254853877760
NBC is sending in the big cheese to get the real scoop behind this @RyanLochte situation. #truthseeker pic.twitter.com/mxQCGQhKb8
— Sage Rosenfels (@SageRosenfels18) August 18, 2016
This issue has the potential to get more serious than it already is, but with Lochte being perceived as someone who isn’t very bright, Twitter will continue to have its fun with him.
