Cheryl Burke stands firm when it comes to receiving feedback, but she draws the line at body-shaming.

On Thursday, October 30, the former Dancing With the Stars professional took to Instagram to address criticisms she faced after stepping into the role of guest judge on the popular reality show. At 41, Burke is no stranger to the world of dance, and she wanted to clarify the intentions behind her scoring decisions.

Burke emphasized that her feedback was crafted to assist contestants and professionals in honing their dance skills, drawing on her own wealth of experience. “My comments didn’t just come out of nowhere,” she explained. “They were based on my personal journey—26 seasons on this show, years of training, and being coached myself. While I welcome mixed reviews, what’s unacceptable is the aggressive and body-shaming remarks I’ve encountered.”

The conversation around body image and weight loss has been further fueled by discussions about Ozempic, a drug originally intended for Type 2 diabetes management. Its use for weight loss has become a topic of buzz, with some celebrities admitting to its use, while others have denied it. Chelsea Handler, for example, revealed on a January 2023 episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that she had taken the medication unknowingly.

Ozempic has become a hot topic when it comes to weight loss — with some stars confirming they have used the drug while others denied it. Chelsea Handler admitted during a January 2023 episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that she unknowingly took the Type 2 diabetes medication, which is traditionally used to improve […]

The body-shaming remark appeared to be a reference to Alix Earle‘s stepmom, Ashley Dupré, who reacted to Burke’s DWTS scoring by telling her via a TikTok clip to “go take more Ozempic” on Tuesday, October 28.

In her Instagram video, Burke added that she appreciated the feedback whether it was “amazing and beautiful messages” or “constructive criticism,” but she drew the line at hateful remarks based on how she looks.

“I know that I did the best that I could with the information that I had and with what I saw in real time, and for the people who think body shaming is okay, especially in front of your children, that sends a powerful message about what you value,” she said.

The dancer continued, “And clearly it’s not kindness, I was simply again, doing my job as a judge, giving feedback based on almost 20 years of my life, and if my score was different from the other judges, it was by one point. I have dedicated my whole life towards being a competitor of ballroom dancing.”

Burke went on to urge people making body-shaming remarks, especially in front of children, to consider the impact they are having.

“And you know, you don’t have to agree with my critique, but you do have to recognize the influence your words have on the next generation watching you. If that’s the example you choose to set, then please, I beg of you leave my name out of it.”

Dupré’s stepdaughter Earle, 24, and pro Val Chmerkovskiy danced a tango to Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend” on the show’s Halloween Night earlier this week.

While many Real Housewives stars have faced backlash for using Ozempic to slim down, Heather Dubrow isn’t here for the criticism. “I’m over this whole ozempic-shaming thing, and I’m also over people asking, ‘Are you on Ozempic?’” the Real Housewives of Orange County star, 54, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, August 9. “Would you […]

Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough each gave the influencer a 10. However, Burke gave Earle a 9, prompting Dupré, 40, to make the controversial Ozempic comment.

In the clip, Dupré’s children could also be heard asking, “Go take more Ozempic?”

Dupré then replied, “What? She looks weird. Doesn’t even look like her.”

Burke previously spoke candidly about her weight with Us Weekly in August, denying she’d ever taken the weight loss medication.

“There’s just no way, I faint at the sight of needles,” she exclusively told Us. “And I’ve heard of side effects, people not feeling well, certain things that happen that are too gross to share. 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.”