Show host Chris Harrison has since defended the decision of the show and wrote in a blog for Entertainment Weekly, "What happened was horribly sad and tragic, but to me acting like it just didn't happen and going on like Eric never existed seemed horribly dishonest and disrespectful."
Citing a column by Russian Orthodox Alexander Shumsky for Christian website Russian People's Line, he had branded the tournament as a "homosexual abomination" simply because of the choice of shoes and the haircut styles, especially from the Russian delegation.
Buzzfeed said that the ride appeared to have struck a nearby tree branch, which had caused the ride to come to a halt. The injuries sustained by at least four riders were minor and that the 25 people who got stranded on the ride remained lert and were corresponding with park personnel during Six Flags' evacuation process, spokeswoman Sue Carpenter for the park said. She also added that two of the four injured were transported later to a local hospital for precautionary measures.
The Telegraph reported that Ray Whelan, whose prior work was as an agent for Sir Bobby Charlton, was detained in Rio de Janeiro as part of Operation Jules Rimet, a police probe into the £200 million ticket sale operation.
