Cheryl Burke explained why she decided to be celibate for three years following her divorce from Matthew Lawrence.
The Dancing With The Stars pro, Cheryl Burke 40 who split from Lawrence, 44, in 2022 said she was previously a ‘serial dater’ but has now built ‘more self-love and self-respect and self-worth.’
‘I was a serial dater, so I never was ever, ever single. The thought of living alone or being alone was just not an option,’ she told Us Weekly. ‘It was just never going to happen in my world,’ the dancer added.
Now that she’s chosen to remain single, Cheryl Burke shared: ‘I love that I’ve grown so much and that I’m doing it consciously and with an intention.’
The star shared that people are skeptical when she tells them of her decision to stay celibate and single.
‘They’re just like, “What?”‘ she said. ‘As if I’m speaking a different language completely. Which is so interesting.’
‘I am on that Mya train. Go, Mya,’ she said referencing the 44-year-old Grammy winner who recently announced she has been celibate for seven years.
The Sex, Lies and Spray Tans host — who left DWTS in 2022 — also shared the stigma associated with being single at 40.
‘I’ll never forget being interviewed by somebody recently and they’re like, “Well, you seem really proud to be single,” as if it was not like, “Are you sure you’re proud?’” she said. ‘It’s interesting.’
The beauty also shared she won’t be joining dating apps anytime soon.
‘Never say never, but I have no plans of joining a dating app, and nor do I ever think or see myself looking,’ she said.
‘Even though I need to be better at leaving my house, I still live like a hermit sometimes, but I think it will happen when it happens. When my energy shifts, then I know if it does happen, I’m ready. I’m not in a rush.’
‘I just feel like I am still, in a way, grieving but not nearly as heavy as it was a year ago,’ she added.
Cheryl Burke first revealed her celibacy journey via a TikTok video in August.
Later that month she posted an Instagram video sharing that she was ‘choosing [herself] for the first time.’
‘I really believe that it has helped me heal,’ she told her followers, admitting that the process can feel ‘lonely.’
In April, she opened up about her split with Matthew, claiming that her role as the ‘breadwinner’ caused issues in their three-year marriage.
The professional dancer — whose divorce from the actor was finalized in September 2022 — said she ‘learned that you can’t buy love’ during her appearance on the Amy and T.J. podcast.
‘I tried to not obviously, I didn’t buy my ex husband, but I definitely would say I was the breadwinner,’ she explained. ‘I supported us, and I don’t think it’s black and white.’
Throughout her marriage to Matthew, best known for his roles in ’90s hits like Boy Meets World, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Brotherly Love, Cheryl remained gainfully employed thanks to her gig on Dancing with the Stars.
‘It made me feel good, but then it didn’t necessarily make the relationship good,’ she said of bringing home the paycheck.
In February 2022, the dancer filed for divorce from Matthew after less than three years of marriage and, nine months later, announced her final performance as a pro partner on DWTS after 25 seasons.
When asked which ‘divorce’ was harder, Cheryl replied, ‘Dancing With the Stars hands down… you can’t compare.’
Meanwhile, Matthew has been going from strength to strength with girlfriend Rozonda ‘Chili’ Thomas of the band TLC.
The pair went Instagram official with their romance in December as they shared a video dancing in pajamas.