Former DWTS pro Cheryl Burke was back in the ballroom as a guest judge. She left the show in 2022 after twenty-six seasons. Not all of the regular viewers kept up with her on social media over the years. They were shocked by her change in appearance. She took to social media to react to the body-shaming and negativity she received.

Fans Confused By Cheryl Burke’s New Look

Cheryl Burke won DWTS twice during her time on the show. She won back-to-back Mirrorball Trophies in 2006. Cheryl won with Drew Lachey in Season 2 and again with Emmitt Smith in Season 3. But it had been a while since viewers saw her in the studio in Los Angeles, California, where the show films.
Cheryl Burke from her YouTube channel, the Diamond Painting Video
After leaving the show, Cheryl Burke spoke negatively about her time on the dance competition. She wasn’t asked to return for the tribute to Len Goodman in 2023. So, fans were surprised when she joined Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli as a guest judge on Halloween Night. She even dressed up as Cleopatra for the theme.

Cheryl Burke Reacts To Body-Shaming Comments

Cheryl Burke has changed a lot since she left DWTS. Her marriage to Matthew Lawrence ended in 2022. She showed off a stunning new look earlier this year. She lost about thirty pounds. Fans accused her of using weight loss drugs or having plastic surgery.

She denied both allegations. But chatter about her appearance reached a fever pitch after her guest stint on DWTS earlier this week. She took to Instagram to call out the rude comments about her looks.
Cheryl Burke/Credit: Instagram
“I have seen so many mixed reviews, which is totally fine, but what’s not okay is that I’ve also seen so many aggressive ones and a lot of body-shamming ones,” she said about the online discourse.

Cheryl added, “For the people who think body shaming is okay, especially in front of your children. That sends a powerful message about what you value and clearly, it’s not kindness.”

Former DWTS Pro Defends Scoring

Cheryl Burke’s appearance wasn’t the only thing fans were talking about. Many thought her scores were too low and her comments too harsh. She reminded fans that she has been a pro dancer for a long time.

“I was simply again, doing my job as a judge, giving feedback based on almost 20 years of my life,” she said. The DWTS alum pointed out, “If my score was different from the other judges, it was by one point.”

“You don’t have to agree with my critique, but you do have to recognize the influence your words have on the next generation watching you,” she added.

Cheryl Burke returns to DWTS later this season for the show’s massive celebration in honor of its twentieth anniversary.