E! News reports exclusively that Michael Phelps is speaking out for the first time about his teammate Ryan Lochte's involvement in the Rio Olympics robbery scandal.
E! News has the exclusive footage of the gold medal-winning swimmer leaving a Scottsdale, Ariz. Starbucks when a paparazzi asked whether or not he believes Lochte will emerge from the controversy unscathed.
"We have good people taking care of us, so hopefully," Phelps responded. (To find out if Phelps has spoken to Lochte since the
SCANDAL broke, watch
E! NEWS tonight at 7 and 11 p.m.)
A source tells us the 31-year-old seemed relaxed during the outing, stopping to thank fans as they congratulated him on his athletic performance at the Summer Games in Brazil. Phelps arrived back on American soil Wednesday morning, just days after Lochte and three other Team
USA swimmers became the focus of an alleged robbery gone wrong.
After continuous public claims that Lochte had been a victim of an armed robbery during a night out with his fellow U.S. Olympic swimming teammates, the gold medalist issued a lengthy statement on Friday regarding the unfolding Olympic scandal.
"I want to apologize for my behavior last weekend-for not being more careful and candid in how I described the events of that early morning and for my role in taking the focus away from the many athletes fulfilling their dreams of participating in the Olympics," he said in a statement shared on social media Friday morning.
As for why he hadn't spoken publicly sooner, "I waited to share these thoughts until it was confirmed that the legal situation was addressed and it was clear that my teammates would be arriving home safely," he penned.
"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 behavior of anyone else that night, I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that am sorry to my teammates, my fans, my fellow competitors, my sponsors and the hosts of this great event," he continued. "I am very proud to represent my country in Olympic competition and this was a situation that could and should have been avoided. I accept responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned from valuable lessons."
The apology comes on the heels of a press conference held Thursday, where Chief of Civil Police of Rio Fernando Veloso told reporters that the police were unable to confirm that there had been a robbery the way it was claimed by the athletes based on surveillance footage obtained from the gas station and further testimonies.
After being detained at a local airport while leaving the Rio Games, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz told authorities the robbery story was, in fact, "fabricated," the Associated Press reported via CNBC.
Source: E! News
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