Cheryl Burke Doesn't Hold Back As She Slams 'Gaslighting' Haters Over Body Backlash
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on May 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM EDT
Cheryl Burke is speaking out.
The "Dancing with the Stars" alum is getting candid about the public scrutiny she’s faced over her physical transformation, and why she wants to change the narrative entirely.
Her latest comments come just days after Cheryl Burke took to TikTok to directly confront social media trolls who accused her of using Ozempic and undergoing cosmetic procedures.
Cheryl Burke Slams ‘Gaslighting’ Over Her Appearance
In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, Burke addressed the wave of speculation and criticism surrounding her appearance, saying the conversation has become deeply frustrating.
“Let’s talk about mental health, let’s talk about what I’ve done in the last few years when I haven’t been in the spotlight,” she said. “I'm proud of that work."
Burke emphasized that while she understands fame comes with attention, she still feels gaslit by the relentless focus on her looks.
"I wish the conversation would be more towards and geared towards that instead of 'She is on Ozempic, she got a whole face lift and everything about her has changed'... gaslighting," she admitted. “If I were to say it doesn’t affect me, I’d be lying."
"But does it affect me as bad as it did when I was on the show? Not even close," she added. "I know I’ve signed up for it... but I just hope to influence anyone, especially young women, that there is more depth to a human being than their physical appearance.”
Burke Opens Up About Body Dysmorphia And Weight Struggles
The professional dancer, who first rose to fame on ABC’s "Dancing with the Stars," also revealed her longtime struggle with body dysmorphia. She said it peaked during her time on the show when weekly costume fittings made her obsess over her weight.
“My weight has always been an issue,” Burke shared. “In the height of my insecurity and my body dysphoria was weekly fittings on the show. I don’t blame the show by any means, but it’s just the name of the game...squeezing into these costumes. It would affect me to the point where I would weigh myself constantly. I would travel with a scale. That’s crazy.”
Burke credited her recent weight loss to healthy lifestyle changes, including her participation in the food program Zen and a shift in her eating habits, not any of the dramatic methods fans have speculated about online.
Cheryl Burke Shuts Down Ozempic Rumors And Plastic Surgery Speculation In Viral TikTok
Just days ago, Burke shared a video on TikTok, addressing the body shamers.
“Let’s just address the elephant in the comment section,” she said in the now-viral video. “I’m not on Ozempic. I’m not sick. I didn’t get a face transplant, and no, I didn’t get a brow lift.”
Burke ended the video by calling out the intense projection and judgment she’s seen online. “The level of projection that is happening and that I’m witnessing is wild,” she said.
Despite the criticism, Burke is standing strong and encouraging fans to focus on self-worth beyond appearances. “I’m proud of the work I’ve done,” she said. “And I just wish the conversation would be more about that.”
Burke Previously Opened Up About Her ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Days
In a revealing conversation last year on the "Amy & T.J. Podcast" with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, the professional dancer reflected on the intense pressure she felt about her body while performing in the spotlight.
“As far as wearing one of the outfits, I would probably get on some, I don't know, some sort of strict diet,” Burke admitted. “But that's my body dysmorphia that I'll forever have... I'm very open with that.”
Though she did admit to facing some harsh comments during her time on the show, specifically in her early years. “I went through this horrific like, ‘She’s too fat for TV,’” she claimed. “I was growing into who I am as a woman as well. And with that, I did gain weight.”
Robach was taken aback and asked, “Wait, what? You were being talked about? What your body looked like?” Burke confirmed with a simple, "Yeah."
Cheryl Burke Opens Up About Body Dysmorphia After Sobriety
Two years ago, after she became sober, Burke decided to was time to open up about her body dysmorphia.
"Now that I'm sober, I have body dysmorphia because I'm a dancer," she admitted at the time. "I mean, tell me one dancer that doesn't. So when I look at myself in the mirror and someone says, 'Oh, you look amazing,' I see someone who is overweight and, in my eyes and in my way of judging myself, not amazing."
Ever since, Burke has been determined to speak honestly about the reality behind the sequins and spray tans and is more focused than ever on inner growth and helping others feel less alone.
