Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte loves the camera — but TV execs who have hired him to cover New York Fashion Week worry he won’t be winning any medals with his interviewing skills, Page Six can reveal.
Lochte was tapped to appear on E! News as a fashion correspondent this week. But E! execs privately complain the gold medalist, who was famously flat in his Olympic interviews, is disappointing on camera.
“E! is regretting the decision. Even after media training, he’s still not sharp,” said an insider, who added producers are frustrated. An E! rep called the claim “inaccurate.”
Lochte was booked to appear last night, tonight and Monday on E! News.
He hit Fashion Week with gusto on Wednesday, sitting front-row at Joseph Abboud and attending a party at the Four Seasons restaurant to celebrate shoe designer Brian Atwood’s new Madison Avenue store and ad campaign with
Candice Swanepoel. He drew a horde of admirers and mingled with Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum, Gabrielle Union, Rachel Roy and Rachel Zoe.
Lochte said he was filming a cameo on “30 Rock” yesterday morning, but admitted to us he hadn’t practiced any lines: “I’m just going to wing it. Whatever happens, happens.”
Lochte is also working on his own men’s clothing line that will “hopefully be up and running within the year.” He told us, “I want that sleek Ralph Lauren Purple Label look, but I want some edge to it.”
The E! rep said, “[Lochte] is doing a great job. It would be unreasonable to expect him to suddenly morph into a seasoned journalist, just as it would be unreasonable to think a journalist could win a gold medal, but it doesn’t mean they can’t take a dip in the pool!”
Lochte’s rep said, “I believe under the circumstances he has done a great job. Ryan does not purport to be the best speaker or the best interview. But each time he gets more experience and becomes more at ease.”