'Dancing With the Stars' 2014 Cast: Cheryl Burke Strikes Back Against Weight Loss Criticism & 'Very Public Struggle' [VIDEO]
Longtime Dancing With the Stars pro dancer Cheryl Burke recently spoke out about criticism surrounding her weight loss, talking about her "very public struggle" with the press.
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Over the past year, Burke has dropped 15 pounds, going down from 135 pounds to 120 pounds. She posed in a bikini for People magazine in late May, showing off her new, skinnier figure. Her weight loss was widely criticized, and she addressed the criticism in a new Facebook post.
"I've had a very public struggle with the press and their comments about my weight for a number of years now, but I want to make it clear that this isn't about them," she wrote. "Yes, I have been hurt by their criticism, but I'm only human. This wasn't some drastic change I made overnight. I'm not caving in to the pressures of Hollywood, as some of you have expressed your concern that I might be, and I'm certainly not starving myself."
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She explained that she is "thriving," not starving, by eating healthy food and reaping the benefits from it. She said that she is tried many fad diets in the past and "wasted time" on that.
"It's not about chasing a number on the scale, and it's not about Hollywood," she explained. "We will all face criticism throughout our lives, no matter where we live and what we weigh. So if you're struggling with that, you're not alone. Not at all."
Burke has not given any indication that she will be leaving Dancing With the Stars anytime soon. She came in eighth place in Season 18 with Drew Carey and came in third with Jack Osbourne the season before. The dancer has won Dancing With the Stars, winning Season 2 and Season 3 with Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith, respectively.
Dancing With the Stars Season 19 premieres in fall 2014 on ABC, though the network has not yet announced a specific premiere date. It is returning to its regular Mondays at 8 p.m. timeslot.
