Cheryl Burke's Perspective on Celebrities Being Single on 'DWTS': Comparing it to an Arranged Marriage

Why Cheryl Burke Thinks Celebrities Should Be Single When Joining DWTS

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Cheryl Burke has a tip for celebrities thinking of joining Dancing With the Stars: it's best not to participate if you are in a relationship.

On her podcast "Sex, Lies and Spray Tans," Burke, who is 40 years old, described the experience as an "arranged marriage" with clear boundaries. She emphasized the importance of either genuinely loving or hating your partner on the show.

The professional dancer mentioned that contestants and their dance partners spend a significant amount of time together practicing their routines. This close proximity can lead to couples developing strong feelings towards each other, whether it be extreme love or extreme dislike.

"It's a very intimate experience, and you're essentially stuck with this person," Burke explained when discussing the dynamics on the ABC show. "It's important for celebrities to be vulnerable during the competition. You really have to try and make it work at least. You become close in so many ways. These celebrities are vulnerable because they have to open up and be completely themselves to succeed. I believe that many of these married celebrities have never even reached this level of vulnerability with their partners before."

Burke wants to make it clear that she supports anyone who wants to join DWTS. She jokingly suggests being single while on the show, hinting at the potential for romantic entanglements.

Having been a dancer on the show for 26 seasons, Burke decided to retire in 2022. Her advice on love behind the scenes stems from her own experience - she started dating Matthew Lawrence in 2007 when his brother, Joey Lawrence, was a contestant on season 3 of DWTS. Although they initially broke up a year later, they eventually got back together in 2017.

The couple tied the knot in 2019, however, Burke took the step to officially file for divorce three years later.

In a post on Instagram in March 2022, Burke shared her struggles following the separation. She admitted that allowing herself to truly feel her emotions was a new experience for her. Throughout her life, she revealed that she had often felt emotionally numb. Burke acknowledged the difficulty in facing her complicated and less than happy emotions at the present moment.

Why Cheryl Burke Thinks Celebrities Should Be Single When Joining DWTS

ABC/Lou Rocco

Burke shared that she has been reflecting on her tendency to judge her own feelings, especially when she is around other people. She admitted that she often gets too caught up in how others perceive her handling of emotions, causing her to doubt if she is experiencing emotions in the "correct" way.

In addition, Burke mentioned that she has been focusing on personal growth before re-entering the dating scene.

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Matthew, on the other hand, was seen publicly dating TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas in 2023. He expressed his excitement about the next chapter in his relationship with his girlfriend.

In March 2023, the actor shared with Entertainment Tonight, “That’s the plan [to have children]. We are working towards that goal.” He added, “I am truly happy with my life right now. Being with someone as amazing as Chilli is a new and special experience for me.”

Matthew explained that he didn't intend to pressure the singer, who is 53 years old. He mentioned to E! News that he and his brother Joe had talked about their childhood plan to have children together. Matthew missed the opportunity to start a family before, and now that Joe is starting a new family, he thought it would be wonderful to have that chance again. That's what he meant by his earlier statement.

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Cheryl Burke