It was one of the standout moments of the night and Michael Phelps didn’t want to forget it.
As the annual MTV Video Music Awards neared its finale late Sunday night, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon blazed onto the stage to present the highly anticipated 2016 Video of the Year Award—except his costume had us doing a double take.
Standing before us was not the entertainer of a late-night show, but the bleached blond, tracksuit-clad Olympic gold medalist, Ryan Lochte.
Having sparked controversy at this year’s summer games for initially alleging he and his fellow swimmers had been pulled over in their taxi and robbed with a gun cocked to his head, the swimmer’s behavior turned into Fallon’s punchline.
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“Who had the best video of the year? I can’t tell you that. They’re all so great and so talented, I could never choose,” he joked at the mic. “I couldn’t tell you even if there was a gun to my head.”
Fallon then played off of Lochte’s penchant for stretching the truth by claiming he was the mastermind behind all of this year’s nominated videos.
“I directed all five nominees. What an amazing year I’ve had! I taughtDrake the ‘Hotline Bling’ dance,” he said. “I made Lemonade with Queen Bey.”
While it was a risky sketch so close to the actual events, the crowd seemed entirely amused by the bit, including Lochte’s fellow teammate and competitor, Phelps. While the most decorated Olympian of all time comfortably took in the show from his seat in the audience alongside fiancé Nicole Johnson, the couple definitely got a kick out of the joke.
While the former Miss California laughed into her hands, Phelps visibly mouthed “Oh my God” while capturing the moment on his phone.
Though Fallon had the audience briefly in stitches, Beyoncé quickly stole his thunder when she ultimately won the Moonman for her hit, “Formation.”
For more of the night’s jaw-dropping moments, visit E!’s roundup here.
Watch E! News Monday night at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. for complete coverage of the MTV VMAs. Plus, Fashion Police returns with a VMAs special Monday evening at 8 p.m. only on E!
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MTV Video Music Awards 2016 Red Carpet Arrivals
