Cheryl Burke clears the air about how many 'showmances' she had while a pro partner on the ballroom competition show.
When it comes to her Dancing With the Stars romantic history, Cheryl Burke is sambaing right into setting the record straight.
The longtime ballroom dancer, who appeared on 25 seasons of the hit ABC ballroom competition show as one of the professional partners, revealed just how many "showmances" she had with her famous partners while working on the show.
"I've had my own showmances, you know. It happens," she admitted during an appearance on Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' podcast, Amy & T.J.
While Burke denied having to keep it secret on account of the show, she would not divulge their names -- well, except for one.
"One of them basically professed his love to me on Ellen DeGeneres," she said. She ultimately confirmed she was talking about former pro football player Chad Ochocinco Johnson, her season 10 celebrity partner. During their appearance on DeGeneres' show, Johnson kissed her and they showed off the $10,000 ring he bought Burke, though she denied on the podcast that they were engaged.
In the course of her time on the show, Burke said she had three showmances and noted that she and one of her partners tried to make their romance serious, but it did not work out.
"Lust. It's not love, right?" she said, noting that once the relationship entered into the real world, their dynamic would change.
As Burke explained, ballroom dancing is an "intimate" contact sport and the DWTS pairings were with each other seven days a week. Mix in the fact that in order to be successful, the celebrity competitors had to be vulnerable as they learned a brand-new skill and quickly trust their pro partner, it was an environment for romance to emerge.
Burke's love life has continued to make headlines over the years, including her 2022 divorce from her husband of less than three years, Matthew Lawrence. While the marriage ended, Burke has not ruled out another walk down the aisle.
"I totally would get married again," she told ET in 2023. "I mean, I know we should probably go from like meeting somebody first, not like straight to the altar, but our time is limited on this planet."
What would that future groom be like? "Someone who, honestly, first of all, is OK and secure with themselves. That really is a person who knows that we are here to evolve as human beings and who wants to grow and continue to learn and stay curious," she said. "I think that that is very important and whether we're on the same path, it's irrelevant, I think it's just someone who knows that life continues to move forward."
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