Ryan Lochte Joins Reality TV Show Amid Controversial Divorce, Financial Troubles

Ryan Lochte has his eyes on the prize amid his contentious divorce from his estranged wife, Kayla Lochte. On January 4, 2026, the Olympic gold medalist will take the stage on the Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America: Reality Check.” This season, the all-star cast, featuring legends from “Real Housewives” and “Dancing With the Stars,” will take part in an intense culinary boot camp like no other to transform them from “culinary disasters to kitchen masters.”

Ryan Lochte’s appearance on the series comes at a pivotal time in his life, as the elite athlete is embroiled in a very public and explosive divorce from his wife, Kayla, whom he married in 2018. Since the summer of 2025, the two have appeared to trade blows on social media while fighting in court over custody of their children and marital property.

Ryan Lochte has apparently also found himself in financial trouble in recent months, as the Fletcher Park Homeowners Association sued the swimmer over alleged unpaid fees related to his and Kayla’s $660,000 Florida home.

Ryan Lochte Joins ‘Worst Cooks in America’ Cast Amid Controversial Divorce From Ex-Wife

Starting in early January 2026, Food Network will air new episodes of “America’s Worst Cooks: Reality Check,” in which star cast members compete in entertainment-themed challenges for a chance to win $25,000 for the charity of their choice.

“The kitchen isn’t where this season’s celebrities shine, but Jeff and Tiffany are determined to change that,” said Betsy Ayala, head of content and food at Warner Bros. “Worst Cooks is where comedy and culinary chaos collide, but in the end, there are awe-inspiring culinary transformations that will blow our audiences away.”

Who else is joining the cast of ‘Worst Cooks in America’?

Ryan isn’t the only notable figure joining the cast. The swimmer will be joined by “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Lisa Barlow, MTV Downtown veteran Julie Brown, “Dancing with the Stars” pro Val Chmerkovskiy, “Shahs of Sunset” actor Reza Farahan, “Love & Hip Hop” alum Amara La Negra, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” legend Manila Luzon, “The Challenge” mainstay CT Tamburello, “7th” star Heaven” Beverly Mitchell and rapper/actor Romeo. Miller.

Ryan Lochte Hints at Marital Struggles in New Memoir Announcement

Ryan’s appearance on “Worst Cooks” comes a month after the Olympian announced he was writing a new memoir about his rise to fame and dramatic fall from grace following the 2016 Rio Summer Games. In addition to writing about his struggles, Ryan promised to give his fans insight into the turmoil he faced in his marriage.

He also opened up about his journey to fatherhood, saying he felt paralyzed by pressure after learning he was having a child “with someone I barely knew.” [and] who constantly reminded me that [our son] I would forever be disappointed in the father I had become. » But he didn’t stop there. Ryan explained that his strained relationship led him down the path to drug addiction. “Every day I would wake up being put down and reminded of my constant failures, day after day, until I was finally kicked out of our family home. »

Kayla responds to Ryan’s claims about their marriage

In a since-deleted post, Kayla responded to Ryan’s claims by sharing a clip of Ryan crying during their wedding ceremony in 2018. In the video, an emotional Ryan could be heard thanking Kayla for interrupting his “own dreams” to support him and then staying by his side during one of the darkest times of his life. “Today, as we continue our story, I am confident that no matter what ups and downs we face, as long as we are on this journey together and I am in charge of the directions, we will always return home,” he promised.

Before that, Ryan and Kayla fought in court for custody of their children, with Kayla alleging that the 41-year-old was using drugs in the presence of their minor children. Although Ryan denied the allegations, he admitted to using substances after falling into a deep depression following a near-fatal accident.

Is Ryan facing financial problems?

According to a previous report from The Blast, Ryan and Kayla were sued by their HOA over alleged unpaid fees. “The owner has failed to pay assessments of all types, interest, late fees, administrative fees, attorney fees and collection costs due to [the owner’s associate]”, the legal documents stated. Months before, reports had surfaced that Ryan and Kayla were also saddled with massive debts owed to the IRS and medical establishments.

Most recently, Ryan stunned fans by announcing he was auctioning off three of his gold medals. However, in a recent statement, he clarified that he would be auctioning the medals for a larger cause. “I never swam for gold medals,” he said. “My passion has always been to be one of the best swimmers in the world. These medals? They were just the icing on the cake of an incredible journey.”

“I handed out medals to fans and young kids in the stands because it was never just about me. It’s about inspiring the next generation and helping them chase their dreams. The memories, the hard work and the connection with all of you are what I cherish the most.”