when Cheryl Burke Aged 9, she testified in court against a caretaker who sexually abused her and her stepsister.
the former Dancing with the Stars pro recalls the painful experience of the Monday, January 20 episode old-ish podcast.
"We were both sexually assaulted by the same person, the caretaker who was taking care of us," Burke, 40, said. "And then my sister's best friend ran home and told her mom. That's why he was sentenced — he was supposed to be in prison for life, but he got out.”
During his trial, "I was almost already gaslighting myself," he continued. “I'll never forget it when I was actually testifying with this man sitting in front of me. They wouldn't even let my mom come with me, which was so crazy. I am 9 years old. And I thought to myself, 'Am I making this up?' I was literally saying that to myself."
Cheryl Burke is opening up about what she's learned since being celibate for three years following her split from ex-husband Matthew Lawrence. “I definitely built a lot more self-love and self-respect and self-worth. I was a serial dater, so I was never, ever single. The thought of being alone or being alone was just (...)
Burke added: "I already felt, at 9 years old, that I was a pedophile. They made me feel that way."
He explained his time old-ish It turns out that he is a "professional recluse" as a result of trauma from his past, which he is trying to make peace with.
"There's no, 'OK, I'm done with that part of my life,'" Burke said. “But I've done so many things where I couldn't handle my anger for this one person that I felt like I was slowly dying, so there's got to be some peace-making going on. Not an apology for the act by any means, but I had to make some sort of, like, 'Okay, this guy was sick.'
However, he noted, “I'm not apologizing. I don't want people to take it the wrong way, like I'm forgiving him for molestation."
Cheryl Burke has no regrets about retiring from Dancing With the Stars — and has no plans to return in the future. "I'm done with it," Burke, 40, told Us Weekly exclusively while promoting her "Sex, Lies and Spray Tans" podcast. “Feelings aside, I have no interest in teaching another celebrity how to dance, (...)
Burke has previously opened up about the abuse she endured as a child In 2015 And later discussed how the ordeal was Affected her relationship with men As an adult.
She thinks that, going forward, it will become more difficult for other victims to speak out against their abusers.
"It's society today, people," Burke said old-ishAdding, “Why would anyone ever want to come out and tell their truth when the victim feels like they're doing something wrong? And it's so easy to gaslight anyone and this whole law of limitations. It's all bull—because it takes decades to finally realize or have some sort of awareness of, 'Yeah, maybe I was raped.'
He added: "There was no quick fix to any of this. None. And I don't even want to come across in any way. No drugs. No shrooms. Believe me, I've tried everything. And it just comes back tenfold. Unless you're working, and boy does it hurt. This work is painful."
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, get in touch National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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