Cheryl Burke Responds to Criticism Over Appearance and Dancing Scores

Cheryl Burke is a dance enthusiast who also engages with her fans online. Recently, the 41-year-old received support after facing criticism for her slim look and scoring on Halloween night’s episode of Dancing with the Stars.

Burke was a guest judge that night, joining colleagues Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli. In spite of negative feedback on her score, she clarified that her comments stem from her rich experience in the dance industry, intended to help contestants enhance their performance.

“My feedback wasn’t random. It was based on my own experiences,” Burke stated in her recent Instagram video. “With 26 seasons on this show and years of coaching myself, I’ve heard a range of responses, and that’s perfectly alright. However, I’ve also encountered many hurtful and body-shaming remarks.”

In response to Burke’s scoring of Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Ashley Dupre, Earle’s stepmother, took to TikTok to say, “Get more Ozempic.” You could even hear her kids chiming in, asking, “Would you like to go get some more Ozempic?” Dupre replied, “What? She looks weird. She doesn’t even look like her.”

Earle, who is 24, and Chmerkovskiy, 39, performed a tango to Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend.” All judges except Burke awarded them 10 points; Burke gave them 9, marking her first return to the ballroom in three years.

In her Instagram video, Burke emphasized how she values positive feedback and constructive criticism but firmly rejects comments about her body. “I know I did my best based on what I saw in the moment. Those who think it’s okay to body shame—especially in front of children—are promoting damaging ideas about value,” she remarked.

“That’s not kindness at all,” she continued. “I did my role as a judge, giving feedback drawn from two decades of experience. Even with my differing score, which was just one point less than the others, I’ve dedicated my life to ballroom dancing.”

Burke urged followers to avoid body-shaming, particularly around kids. “You don’t have to agree with my views, but consider how your words affect younger generations. If that’s what you want to model, please don’t associate me with it,” she said.

This isn’t the first time Burke has opened up about her journey. Earlier this year, she spoke about her significant weight loss and made it clear that she doesn’t use weight-loss drugs.

Burke has shared her aversion to injections, saying, “I can’t stand needles.” She recounted making lifestyle changes and noted that her focus has been more about how she feels than the numbers on the scale. “At my heaviest, I was around 150. I don’t check my weight daily anymore because it was problematic.” She disclosed that she currently weighs about 109 pounds, stating, “What truly matters is how I feel.”

Despite her weight loss, Burke mentioned enjoying treats like candy. “I won’t be trying to lose more weight,” she emphasized. Regarding her meals, she shared, “I start with a fruit shake that has more calories than any other meal and love my morning Peet’s Coffee matcha. Warm pretzel bread is simply the best.”

The television personality describes her approach to food as “generous,” detailing her daily diet including oatmeal, fruit, hummus, and salads. “This is real food, not diet food,” she concluded.