Cheryl Burke Shocked by DWTS' Exclusion: Reveals the Untold Story Behind Len Goodman's Tribute Episode

Cheryl Burke. David Becker/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

Cheryl Burke will not be present in the Dancing With the Stars ballroom next week to pay tribute to the late judge Len Goodman. Burke, 39, shared via Threads on Thursday, October 19 that she was not invited to participate in the tribute, but she will be supporting her former colleagues in spirit. She concluded her message by sending love and light to everyone and using the hashtag #riplen.

During the October 17 episode of DWTS, co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough revealed that the October 24 episode would pay tribute to Goodman, who passed away at the age of 78 in April after battling prostate cancer privately. Ribeiro and Hough announced that the special event would feature various former professional dancers, including Maks Chmerkovskiy, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Tony Dovolani, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska, Karina Smirnoff, Louis van Amstel, and Mark Ballas.

Despite not receiving an invite, Burke had one of the longest tenures on the show. Her debut in 2006 resulted in a victory as she took home the mirrorball with partner Drew Lachey. Burke came back for season 3 and once again emerged triumphant, this time alongside Emmitt Smith. After a brief break from 2015 to 2016, she returned to compete in a total of 26 seasons before announcing her retirement in November 2022.

Len Goodman photo taken by David Livingston/Getty Images.

In an Instagram post, she expressed that making this decision was extremely difficult for her, but she is certain that it is the right one. From the time I was 21 years old, this show has been like a second family to me. The cast, crew, and fans have supported me through my best moments and my most challenging times, and I honestly can't imagine who I would be today without them.

Burke has openly shared her experience of adjusting to her life after DWTS since leaving the show. In an exclusive interview with We, she revealed that despite it being her decision to leave, the emotional impact remains significant. Hanging up her dancing shoes signified the end of a chapter that had shaped almost half of her life.

After hearing about Goodman's death, Burke expressed her deep emotions and admiration for him by writing a heartfelt tribute. She shared how much his guidance had meant to her, starting from her teenage years when he evaluated her performances in various European dance competitions. Their journey continued until their retirement on the show Dancing with the Stars in the recent season, where they shared a warm embrace. In an Instagram post in April, Burke expressed her gratitude to Goodman for embodying the essence of Ballroom Dancing and consistently standing up for what was righteous, regardless of the circumstances.