Although Cheryl Burke‘s relationship with Matthew Lawrence ended years ago, she admits to still experiencing moments of grief over their marriage.
In a recent episode of the “I Do, Part 2” podcast, which aired on Thursday, October 2, the Dancing with the Stars veteran, 41, opened up about her divorce.
While engaging in a conversation about celebrity separations with fellow podcaster Jen Fessler, Burke confided that her own divorce “tested” her resilience.
She noted that the troubles in her marriage weren’t the sole significant life change she encountered that year; she also departed from DWTS, having spent 26 seasons as a professional dancer. Additionally, she moved out of a house she had occupied for more than a decade.
“It wasn’t solely about my divorce. The simultaneous exit from Dancing with the Stars, combined with moving from my home of sixteen years, created a whirlwind of change for me,” Burke recounted. “Those three monumental life transitions happening all at once felt overwhelming. Experts say encountering more than five major changes in a year can lead someone to seek mental health help.”
While she expressed a lack of regrets regarding her separation from Lawrence, 45, Burke admitted that feelings of loss still surface from time to time.
“To claim that I haven’t grieved would be untrue. I believe it’s possible to acknowledge both aspects,” she reflected. “Understanding that I had to let go of both these significant parts of my life helped me find acceptance in the person I see in the mirror today.”
Burke emphasized that the transitions, while seeming rapid, were rooted in long-standing internal struggles.
“Although the changes felt sudden, they were the culmination of years of thought and emotion,” she detailed.
During the podcast, Burke also confirmed that she and the Mrs. Doubtfire actor had agreed on a prenup prior to their marriage in 2019, a matter she has previously mentioned.
Burke revealed that prior to marrying Lawrence, she insisted on having a prenup in place, a necessity she had raised prior to their wedding.
“It was an ultimatum, a substantial document with around 70 to 85 pages of detailed terms,” she explained. “My attorney advised that both sides should have legal representation, which was also a cornerstone of the arrangement.”
Burke ultimately refused to move forward with their marriage without a formal agreement in place.
“It created quite a stir, particularly for him. Ultimately, we were at a crossroads: either we go ahead with this and marry, or we don’t. It was quite straightforward,” she reflected.
Burke first became romantically involved with Lawrence in 2007, but they split after a year. Their relationship rekindled in 2017, culminating in their wedding in 2019. Burke filed for divorce in 2022. Since their separation, Lawrence has begun dating TLC singer Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.
