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Cheryl Burke hits back at bullies over shocking 35lb weight loss and finally breaks silence on Ozempic rumors

Cheryl Burke is done staying quiet.

The Dancing with the Stars alum, 41, revealed she’s been the target of online bullying following her dramatic 35lb weight loss — and she’s now setting the record straight about how she really slimmed down.

During her 17 seasons on DWTS, which ended in 2022, Cheryl faced ongoing criticism about her looks while battling body dysmorphic disorder, a condition that distorts how she sees herself. 

‘It’s always been this race for me to try and gain others’ acceptance rather than find it within myself,’ she told UsWeekly on Wednesday. ‘To say that the social media bullying has not affected me would be a lie. I’m human. It happens so often that I’m not shocked by it.’

Following her striking transformation earlier this year, Cheryl was slammed with wild accusations—from weight-loss drugs to plastic surgery and skin lightening—all of which she vehemently denies. 

When asked directly if she’s ever used Ozempic, Cheryl didn’t hesitate: ‘No, I have not. There’s just no way, I faint at the sight of needles.’

Cheryl Burke hits back at bullies over shocking 35lb weight loss and finally breaks silence on Ozempic rumors

Cheryl Burke revealed she’s been the target of online bullying following her dramatic 35lb weight loss — and she’s now setting the record straight about how she really slimmed down; (seen in May)

During her 17 seasons on DWTS, which ended in 2022, Cheryl faced ongoing criticism about her looks while battling body dysmorphic disorder, a condition that distorts how she sees herself; (seen in 2022)

During her 17 seasons on DWTS, which ended in 2022, Cheryl faced ongoing criticism about her looks while battling body dysmorphic disorder, a condition that distorts how she sees herself; (seen in 2022)

She went on to explain that her body changed thanks to one simple shift: cutting off late-night eating.

‘I’ve heard of side effects, people not feeling well, certain things that happen that are too gross to share,’ she said of the drug. 

‘I’m not willing to feel like that. I changed my eating habits. I stopped eating past 7 p.m. and it changed my whole body. It wasn’t so much about a number on the scale as it was about how I feel.’

And to those accusing her of lying about her transformation? Cheryl’s got a message.

‘I am not a liar. I’ve never gone under the knife to get anything done. There’s been no nips, tucks, Ozempic, nothing like that. 

‘To be called a liar obviously doesn’t feel good, but I also know my truth. I’m learning to feel comfortable in my skin — my actual skin I was born with.’

Last year, Cheryl spoke about her journey toward self-acceptance and her rejection of ‘self-hate’ during an appearance on the Amy and T.J. Podcast, hosted by former ABC anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes. 

She admitted in the conversation to having ‘body dysmorphia,’ and she said she would ‘forever have’ the condition. ‘I’ve been very open with that.’ 

Following her striking transformation earlier this year , Cheryl was slammed with wild accusations¿from weight-loss drugs to plastic surgery and skin lightening¿all of which she vehemently denies; (seen in May)

Following her striking transformation earlier this year , Cheryl was slammed with wild accusations—from weight-loss drugs to plastic surgery and skin lightening—all of which she vehemently denies; (seen in May)

She went on to explain that her body changed thanks to one simple shift: cutting off late-night eating; (seen in May)

She went on to explain that her body changed thanks to one simple shift: cutting off late-night eating; (seen in May)

¿I am not a liar. I¿ve never gone under the knife to get anything done. There¿s been no nips, tucks, Ozempic, nothing like that,' Cheryl said; (seen in 2023)

‘I am not a liar. I’ve never gone under the knife to get anything done. There’s been no nips, tucks, Ozempic, nothing like that,’ Cheryl said; (seen in 2023)

Cheryl said she went through a ‘horrific “she’s too fat for TV”‘ phase earlier in her career, after she joined DWTS when she was only 21. 

‘I was growing into who I am as a woman, and with that I did gain weight, you know,’ she explained.  

In a TikTok video from April of this year, Cheryl blasted people who have alternately criticized her for being ‘too thin’ after claiming she was ‘too heavy.’ 

‘People will watch a 30-second video and think they know everything about you, your health, your worth [and] your story,’ she said ‘I’ve seen the comments [like], “She looks too thin,” “She wears too much makeup” [and] “what happened to her?”‘

‘Here’s my answer,’ Cheryl responded. ‘Nothing happened to me, except healing. I’m not sick and not broken. In fact, I’ve never felt more alive, more grounded in who I am, and more at peace in this body.’

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