Cheryl Burke
David Becker/Getty Images, iHeartRadiowhen Cheryl Burke At age 9, she testified in court against a caretaker who sexually abused her and her stepsister.
former dancing with the stars Pros recalled their traumatic experiences on Monday, January 20’s episode Looks old podcast.
“We were both sexually abused by the same person, the caretaker who was looking after us,” said Burke, 40. “And it was my sister’s best friend who ran home and told her mother. That’s why they sentenced him – he was supposed to be in prison for life, but he got out. ”
During the trial, she continued, “I was already in the midst of gaslighting.” “I’ll never forget actually testifying with this man sitting in front of me. My mom wouldn’t let me come with me either, which was really crazy. I was 9 years old And I was thinking, “Am I making this up?” That’s what I was literally saying to myself. ”
Cheryl Burke has opened up about what she learned from being single for three years after splitting from ex-husband Matthew Lawrence. “I definitely built more self-love, self-esteem, and self-worth. I was never single because I was on many dates. The idea of living alone or being alone was just a thing […]
Ms Burke added: “I already felt that I was a pedophile when I was nine years old. They made me feel that way.”
she explained during class Looks old She appears to be a “professional detachment” as a result of past trauma, with which she is trying to make peace.
“It’s not like, ‘Okay, I’m done with that part of my life,'” Burke says. “But I had worked so much that I couldn’t handle my anger towards this one person and felt like I was slowly dying, so some kind of reconciliation had to happen. I’m not condoning that behavior in any way, but I needed to create some kind of impression that said, “Okay, this person was sick.”
However, she said: I don’t want this to be taken the wrong way, like I’m condoning his sexual abuse. ”
Cheryl Burke has no regrets about retiring from Dancing with the Stars and has no plans to return in the future. Burke, 40, spoke exclusively to Us Weekly while promoting her podcast “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tan.” “Feelings aside, I have no interest in teaching other celebrities how to dance. […]
Burke has previously opened up about the abuse she suffered as a child. in 2015 And afterwards, as we talked about what the ordeal was like, affected her relationships with men As an adult.
She thinks it will be even harder for other victims to speak out against their abusers in the future.
“It’s society today, man,” Burke said. Looks oldfurther adding, “Why would someone come forward and try to tell the truth when the victim feels like they’re doing something wrong? And gas this whole statute of limitations with someone?” It’s so easy to write, it’s all bullshit — because by the time you finally realize or have some kind of realization, ‘Oh, I might have been raped.’ It will take decades, if not a lifetime.”
She further added: Nothing. And I don’t want to see that in any way. There are no medicines. There are no mushrooms. Believe me, I’ve tried everything. And if you don’t do the work, it just comes back tenfold, and it doesn’t hurt. It’s painful. This job is painful. ”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact: National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
