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Ryan Lochte Claims That Michael Phelps Wasn’t There for Him After His Rio Scandal, But Vanilla Ice Has Been Great!

So much for being teammates. Ryan Lochte claimed during a new interview with USA Today that Michel Phelps never called him after Lochte’s Rio scandal this past August.

Related: PHOTOS: Unforgettable Sports Scandals

As previously reported by Us Weekly, Lochte made headlines during the Summer Olympics after he claimed that he and three teammates were held at gunpoint and robbed at a Rio gas station on August 14. After authorities investigated the incident and reviewed surveillance footage, Lochte and his teammates were accused of vandalizing the gas station bathroom after a night out partying. Lochte, who later issued a public apology, was sentenced to a 10-month suspension by the USOC and USA Swimming.

“I think he texted me back saying, ‘Yeah, sure. I’m here to help,’ or something like that,” Lochte, 32, told USA Today, revealing that he reached out to Phelps for support. “But he didn’t call me. I was like, ‘Hey, can you please call me? Let me know, I need help.’ That never really happened.”

Related: 10 Best, Biggest Moments From the 2016 Rio Olympics

Ryan Lochte
Ryan Lochte on September 7, 2016, in New York City

During an August 29 interview with the Today show, Phelps, 31, claimed he reached out to Lochte multiple times.

“Ryan and I have been teammates forever and it’s always hard to see a friend and a competitor going through a hard time like this – I know what it feels like. I’ve been through it before,” said the famed swimmer, who was arrested for DUI in both 2004 and 2014. “Hopefully he can come out of this a better person. I’ve reached out to him a couple times and I think he understands a lot. He will be able to grow from this.”

Since the incident, the 12-time Olympic medalist has found support on ABC’s season 23 of Dancing With the Stars. The athlete is currently competing for the Mirrorball with pro partner Cheryl Burke.

Aside from Burke, Lochte told USA Today, he’s found a new friend in fellow contestant Robert Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice.

“I know all the words to ‘Ice, Ice Baby,’” Lochte told the paper, referring to the rapper’s 1991 hit track. “It’s been awesome. He’s so nice and everything.” (During an interview with E! backstage at DWTS, Vanilla Ice called Lochte a “hero” for bringing home a gold medal for America.)

Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte
Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016

After being rushed by protesters following his debut performance during the season 23 premiere on September 12, Lochte praised the entire cast and crew for their support in a statement on Instagram.

“When I was asked to do the show, the one thing that I kept hearing was that it was like joining a big family,” Lochte wrote on September 14. “After Monday’s incident, I now know what that means. I have gotten so much love from everyone on the show, including my partner Cheryl, my fellow competitors, the producers, the security team and its fans.”

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays on ABC at 9 p.m. ET.

Related: PHOTOS: Most Disastrous 'Dancing With the Stars' Partners Ever!

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