Cheryl Burke is embracing constructive criticism, but she is drawing a firm line against blatant body shaming. The former Dancing With the Stars professional recently spoke out against online attacks.
The 41-year-old addressed fan feedback on her judging scores as a guest judge on the reality competition. She posted a video to Instagram on Thursday, October 30, explaining her rationale.
Burke stated her evaluations were based on extensive experience. She spent 26 seasons on DWTS and many years training and being coached. Her comments came from this personal background.
"My comments didn’t come out of nowhere. They came from my personal experience. They came from having been on this show for 26 seasons and also from all the years I spent coaching, being coached," Burke said. She noted a divide in opinions, which is fine, but highlighted "aggressive opinions and a lot of ‘body shaming’."
The body shaming comments appeared to target Alix Earle’s stepmother, Ashley Dupré. Dupré reacted to Burke’s DWTS score by telling her to "go take more Ozempic" in a TikTok clip on Tuesday, October 28.
Burke appreciates all feedback, from "amazing and beautiful messages" to "constructive criticism." However, she declared hateful remarks about her appearance are unacceptable.
"I know I did my best with the information I had and with what I saw in real time, and for those who think body shaming others is okay, especially in front of their children, that sends a strong message about what they value," Burke stated. "And clearly it’s not kindness."
Burke was fulfilling her role as a judge, basing her scores on nearly 20 years of experience. Her score was only one point different from the other judges. She has dedicated her life to competitive ballroom dance.
She urged individuals who body shame, especially in front of children, to consider the impact of their actions. "You don’t have to agree with my rating, but you do have to acknowledge the influence your words have on the next generation watching you," she said. "If that’s the example you choose to give, please, I beg you: leave my name out of it."
The controversial comment arose after Dupré’s stepdaughter, Alix Earle, 24, and professional Val Chmerkovskiy performed a tango to Billie Eilish’s "Bury a Friend" on Halloween night earlier this week. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough each awarded Earle a 10. Burke, however, gave Earle a 9, which prompted Dupré’s remark.
Dupré’s children were reportedly heard in the video asking, "Go take more Ozempic?" Dupré, 40, then responded, "What? She looks weird. She doesn’t even look like herself."
Burke previously addressed her weight with Us Weekly in August. She specifically denied ever taking weight loss medications.
"Not at all, I faint at the sight of needles," she told Us Weekly in an exclusive statement. "I’ve heard about the side effects, of people feeling sick, certain things that happen that are too unpleasant to tell. I don’t want to feel that way." Burke explained that she changed her eating habits, stopping meals after 7 p.m., which transformed her body. "It wasn’t so much about the number on the scale, but about how I feel," she concluded.