Dancing With the Stars alum Cheryl Burke is speaking out forcefully against speculation surrounding her appearance, firmly denying rumors that she has undergone plastic surgery or used weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.
In a candid TikTok video posted on May 18, Burke addressed what she called “the elephant in the comments section,” saying, “I’m not on Ozempic, I’m not sick, I didn’t get a face transplant, and no, I did not get a brow lift.” The 41-year-old went on to criticize how some social media users reduce her identity to a “headline or a filter,” rather than seeing her as a person who has simply lived and evolved.
@cherylburkeofficial I’m not on Ozempic. I’m not sick. I didn’t get “a new face.” Stop dissecting women’s bodies like they belong to you. This is YOUR reminder: I don’t owe you an explanation for my healing or for anything quite frankly. Let this be the last time I have to say it. #stopbodyshaming #realtalk #mentalhealthawareness
♬ original sound - Cheryl Burke
Burke, who rose to fame at 21 and has spent two decades in the public eye, reflected on her journey through trauma, divorce, sobriety, and reinvention. “That Cheryl doesn’t exist anymore,” she said, responding to “we miss the old Cheryl” comments. “I’ve healed, I’ve lost, I’ve grieved like anybody else. And yeah, maybe it shows but I’m not sorry for it one bit.”
Her message also called out the particularly harsh tone of online criticism from other women. “The accusations are completely cruel. And the fact that so many of them are actually coming from women, that’s what is so shocking and hurtful,” she said.
The former DWTS star acknowledged the emotional toll of public life, adding that she now feels less safe online than she did before. “There’s a tone now on certain platforms that feels more like a firing squad than an actual community,” she said, referencing a broader issue of toxic behavior on social media.
Burke concluded with a clear boundary: “If you’re here to speculate, compare, or just demand answers that you’re not entitled to, you’re not welcome in this space I’ve created.” In the caption of her post, she wrote, “Stop dissecting women’s bodies like they belong to you.” Her video quickly resonated across platforms, drawing both praise and reflection on the relentless scrutiny public figures especially women ace about their bodies and appearances.
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