Ryan Lochte Protesters Defend Their 'DWTS' Ambush: 'He Embarrassed Americans on the World's Stage'

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The two men who stormed the Dancing With the Stars stage to protest Ryan Lochte's involvement on the hit ABC show are standing behind their actions.

Barzeen Soroudi and Sam Sotoodeh, who were detained and held overnight for trespassing after ambushing the embattled Olympic swimmer during Monday's DWTS season 23 premiere, spoke with reporters after being released from jail on Tuesday, and defended their protest.

"Our purpose is to get the message out that Lochte is a coward, a liar, and under Brazilian law, a criminal," Sotoodeh, 59, told numerous media outlets, referring to the scandal surrounding Lochte's false report of being robbed at gunpoint at a Rio de Janeiro gas station during the Olympic Games in August.

WATCH: Ryan Lochte Gives Heartfelt Thanks to His 'DWTS' Family After Protester Incident: 'I Have Gotten So Much Love'

Both men stated that they had no intention of physically harming Lochte, calling their action a "non-violent protest." Sotoodeh, who was tackled by security, criticized DWTSfor its handling of the situation.

"I don't understand why the people there did that. I wasn't even going towards Lochte, I was going in a different direction," he argued, claiming that the incident left him with bruises on his arms and back along with neck pain.

WATCH: What Viewers Didn't See When Ryan Lochte Protesters Stormed 'Dancing With the Stars' Stage

According to Soroudi, 25, the men were protesting ABC and the Walt Disney Company for "choosing Lochte to represent Americans."

"Yes, he did receive gold medals, but what he did in Rio did not represent Americans well," Soroudi added.

According to the two men, they both attended the Rio Olympics and claim that Lochte's accusations of robbery caused a social "climate change" that led to Americans becoming "targets."

"The Brazilians felt insulted and it became very difficult for Americans there," Soroudi said.

WATCH: Ryan Lochte Talks 'Very Big Mistake' in Rio, 'Dancing With the Stars': Everyone's 'Blowing This Way Out of Proportion'

"I want the world to know, I want America to know, that we don't take what he did lightly," he continued. "He embarrassed Americans on the world's stage and this was our form of protesting."

Soroudi went on to say that he has no regrets about his protest, even though it meant spending a night in jail, adding that he "wouldn't mind going back."

The LAPD told ET that Sotoodeh and Soroudi did not have tickets to the show's taping. After their arrest, the men were booked for trespassing, and transported to Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, California, where they were held overnight. The protesters were released from police custody at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, with a court date set for Oct. 4.

WATCH: Cheryl Burke Says Ryan Lochte Injured His Ankle When 'DWTS' Protesters Stormed the Stage

According to Lochte's dance partner, two-time champ Cheryl Burke, the swimmer's ankle was injured during the incident as security tackled the protestors. Despite Lochte being disheartened by the event, Burke said they are trying to move forward and focus on the coming weeks. However, she admitted that it "will probably take us a few weeks to put this incident behind us."

See what Lochte told ET following the DWTS drama in the exclusive interview below.

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