Cheryl Burke will not be returning to Dancing with the Stars for next week’s show honoring former judge Len Goodman.
The dancer, 39, who used to be married to Matthew Lawrence, explained her absence Thursday on Threads.
‘For those of you asking if I’ll be a part of Len Goodman’s tribute next week on DWTS, unfortunately, I wasn’t invited,’ she wrote.
‘However, I’ll be there in spirit and can’t wait to cheer my former colleagues on! Sending love and light to everyone. #riplen.’
On Tuesday, DWTS hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro announced the October 24 show would feature a tribute to the late judge who died in April at age 78 from prostate cancer.
Not invited: Cheryl Burke, 39, said she was not invited to the October 24 Dancing with the Starts tribute to late judge Len Goodman. ‘I’ll be there in spirit and can’t wait to cheer my former colleagues on!’ she wrote on Threads Thursday
Dancers Max Chmerkovskiy, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Tony Dovolani, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Sliwinska, Karina Smirnoff, Louis van Amstel and Mark Ballas will appear in the special.
‘I’m saddened by DWTS oversight on one of the 1st Mirror Ball “Achievers”. It was classy how you are handling the omission,’ wrote one unhappy fan.
‘You were the entire reason I watched for many seasons. This sucks,’ stated another.
Cheryl joined the dance competition in season two and won victory with partner 98 Degrees singer Drew Lachey.
She did it again in season three with former NFL star Emmitt Smith.
The choreographer appeared in 26 seasons of the show before announcing her retirement in November 2022.
She wrote a loving tribute to her former mentor after Len Goodman’s death was announced in April.
‘There are not enough words to describe how much Mr. Len Goodman made such an impact in my life,’ she penned at the time.
Gone but not forgotten: Former DWTS judge Len Goodman died from prostate cancer at April at age 78
Classy: ‘I’m saddened by DWTS oversight on one of the 1st Mirror Ball “Achievers”. It was classy how you are handling the omission,’ wrote one unhappy fan. Cheryl won first place in season two with Drew Lachey and in season three with Emmitt Smith (Pictured in Los Angeles in November 2006)
‘From when I was a teenager when he used to judge me in all of the European dance competitions I took part in all the way up until the day we hugged each other when we both retired on @dancingwiththestars this past season.’
‘I’m sure many will agree when I say that because of you, Ballroom Dancing was brought to main stream television,’ she asserted.
‘I truly believe the show is a success and is loved and viewed by millions to this day because of your influence, your passion, and love for the Ballroom genre.’
Podcast: Cheryl hasn’t left the world of ballroom entirely. She is the host of her own podcast, Sex, Lies and Spray Tans in which she follows the current competition and dishes with former competitors about their experiences on the show (Pictured in West Hollywood, Ca in March)
Cheryl hasn’t left the world of ballroom entirely.
She is the host of her own podcast, Sex, Lies and Spray Tans in which she follows the current competition.
The host also also dishes with former competitors about their experiences on the show.
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays on ABC.
