Cheryl Burke pushes back to the intense control of her physical transformation and urges the public and the media to move the conversation towards mental health and personal growth.
In an honest interview with Entertainment tonightThe 41-year-old dancer opened to the emotional toll by being the subject of relentless speculation about her appearance, including unfounded rumors of cosmetic procedures and the use of weight loss medicine such as Ozempic.
As for this, Burke said, “Let’s talk about mental health. Let’s talk about what I’ve done in the last few years when I wasn’t in the limelight. I’ve done so much work on myself from the inside out and I’m proud of it. I wish the conversation focused more on it.”
According to Daily MailAcknowledged Burke that being in the public eye comes with a degree of control, but said the recent wave of online comments has crossed the line for gas lighting.
Besides, she admitted, “If I said it didn’t affect me I would lie. But it doesn’t affect me as badly as it did when I was on the show. I’m not here to prevent people from talking, but I will influence those who relate to my journey – especially young women – to recognize that there is more to one person than just their physical appearance.”
In addition, the former pro-dancer, who parted, actor Matthew Lawrence in 2022, also revealed her long-standing battle with body dysmorphia, which began in her childhood and worsened during her time on the show due to constant fittings and an employment with her weight.
“I traveled used to travel with a scale,” she said. “This number dictated how I felt every day. That’s no way to live.”
Burke attributed her recent physical changes to a shift in her eating habits, partly thanks to a food program called Zen rather than any medical interventions.
Last week, she turned to the ongoing speculation that was head-on in a Tiktok video where she rejected claims that she had undergone facial surgery or used Ozempic.
She added, “This is me at 41. I have changed because life has changed me. I have experienced trauma, divorce, soberness, reinvention. I still heal, grow and show up.”
In addition, Burke closed his message with a firm attitude towards boundaries and said, “If you are here to speculate, compare or demand answers you are not entitled to, you are not welcome. I do not owe anyone an explanation of my healing.”
