Cheryl Burke Gets Real About Silent Battles After DWTS Exit: “I Didn’t Even Recognize Myself”

It has been a journey of self-discovery these past few years for former “Dancing with the Stars” pro Cheryl Burke since she left the dancing competition after 26 seasons in 2022. Besides leaving the ballroom behind, she also said goodbye to her marriage to actor Matthew Lawrence, so she has had a lot of changes in her life.

Burke Reveals Personal Struggles in Social Media Post

With these changes in her life, we have seen Burke become more and more active on social media. Earlier this week, she shared a very vulnerable video where she talked about her personal struggles she has been going through since all of these changes started happening.

In the video, Burke starts out by saying, “They say letting go is hard. They say moving on is brave, but what nobody talks about is the terrifying silent space in between. And that in between? That’s the transition stage that I’m currently in.”

Burke continued her message, “Three years ago, I started over. Not just in the Instagram caption way. I mean actually starting over. I left behind what I thought was my forever and walked straight into the unknown.”

One of the most honest and powerful lines came next, as she said, “Reinvention isn’t a highlight reel. It’s not a fresh haircut, though I got one. It’s not a glow-up. In my case, it’s been me crying on my bathroom floor and then choosing over and over again to keep going.”

She ended the video saying, “I don’t just move on, I rise. If you’ve let go but kind of feel like you haven’t landed yet, take it or leave it, but don’t rush it. Don’t numb it, but just remember that you’re not lost. You’re just going through a transition, and with that comes uncomfortable feelings… Remember, there’s a version of you that’s not just surviving, but thriving.”

Burke’s Fans Flock to Her Side

After Burke shared the video on her social media, her fans left many comments showing their support for the former “DWTS” pro dancer.

One person said, “Beautiful message. Your spirit is glowing. I have been there too…the starting over phase and it’s not for the faint of heart.”

Another person added, “One of the most powerful shares. Appreciate this so much and feel your sincerity from your experience. So deep. ❤️❤️❤️”

Some other words of encouragement from fans included: “Keep moving forward and growing…,” and, “Perfectly said! 🙏🏻,” and, “This really spoke to me. I’m in transition right now and it’s so very painful. It’s good to hear that. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, cause it sure doesn’t feel like it at the moment. ❤️”

Burke Shows Off Hair Transformation

While Burke mentioned a fresh haircut in her video, she debuted that fresh haircut in another social media post. With a caption of “#shebangs,” she was definitely showing off the new bangs in the Instagram video.

She can be seen in the video with her hair stylist, Mikey Giovanni. The duo are using one of the latest social media trends to show off the new look for Burke.