Are Cheryl Burke & Matthew Lawrence Still Married? Looking Back at Their Relationship
Cheryl Burke is making her long-awaited return to Dancing With the Stars as a guest judge during the Tuesday, October 28, episode. Burke has a long history on the show, having appeared on 25 seasons before her exit in 2022.
The show also introduced her to Matthew Lawrence, whom she married in 2019. They first met in 2006 when Lawrence’s brother, Joey Lawrence, was a contestant on the third season of the dance competition, and they started dating early the next year.
Although they split in February 2008, they reconciled nearly a decade later in 2017. He popped the question in May 2018, and they were married one year later. But are the two still together today? Scroll down for everything to know about their relationship.
Are Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence still married?
No, Burke and Lawrence are no longer married. She filed for divorce on February 18, 2022, listing the date of separation as January 7 of that year.
During a May 2022 appearance on The Tamron Hall Show, Burke confirmed that she and Lawrence were in couples therapy before their split. “I think it’s very healthy to have that third person there that’s not biased and that can give you ways and tools on how to communicate,” she explained, adding that they started therapy before they even tied the knot.
The divorce was finalized in September 2022. Per court documents obtained by People, the exes upheld their prenuptial agreement, and no spousal support was requested.
What happened between Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence?
Burke shared her side of why the marriage failed during a 2024 appearance on the I Do, Part 2, podcast. She explained that her busy work schedule, and the fact that she was the breadwinner of the family, took a toll on her relationship.
“I was just at the height of the success of Dancing With the Stars. We were on tour, we did two seasons a year and two tours a year,” she explained. “So I was just working all around the clock and barely had a day off. I guess he wasn’t necessarily working at the time — as much. He was working, but not as much.”
The pro dancer continued, “I knew what I was marrying. I knew what I was getting into financially. I’m not going to speak for him. I’m not here to badmouth him whatsoever. But I believe that there is this gender role. A man may feel a little emasculated when he doesn’t make the majority of the money. I think that may have taken a toll.”
She also admitted that her asking for a prenup before tying the knot “raised a lot of concerns, especially on his behalf.”
However, Burke also took accountability, noting that she doesn’t know if she was necessarily ready for a wedding, but “selfishly” wanted to “see if I could get married.” She noted, “There were just so many red flags.”
Do Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence have kids?
No, Burke and Lawrence do not have children. However, they did have a dog during their relationship and were even involved in a custody battle over the pooch after their split. Lawrence bought Burke the dog for their first wedding anniversary.
“She’s my dog, and it was a gift from my ex, and I hope that this soon, you know, dies down, and he calls it off,” Burke told Entertainment Tonight in 2022. “Because you’re taking, like, my daughter away from me.” She also confirmed that she had no problem going to trial if Lawrence didn’t relent.
“I’m a dog mom. And that’s it,” she insisted. “I can’t even imagine my life. I mean, I could just cry right now but, like, couldn’t imagine my life without her.”
In January 2023, Burke confirmed that she won the custody battle, noting that she was now a “FULL TIME dog mom.”
Dancing With the Stars, Season 34, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC
