Alix Earle Expresses Gratitude to DWTS Guest Judge Cheryl Burke Following Stepmom’s Criticism
Regardless of her family’s perspective, Alix Earle expressed appreciation for former Dancing With the Stars pro Cheryl Burke’s insights during last week’s episode.
“I genuinely valued your critiques; they were incredibly beneficial for me as a contestant,” Alix, 24, commented on Cheryl’s recent TikTok post. “Thank you.”
The video, shared late last week, showcased Cheryl reflecting on her time at the judges’ table and the criticism she received afterward.
“After taking a day to really sit with everything — the feedback from my guest judging, the body-shaming remarks, the kind words, the harsh ones, and everything in between — here’s where I’m at,” the 41-year-old dancer wrote in the video caption, released on Thursday, October 30, running nearly three minutes long.
“I’m proud of myself for conveying my thoughts succinctly in the limited time I had, as that was my biggest concern,” Cheryl shared in her video. “I hope my words prove beneficial for the remaining couples.”
The former DWTS pro highlighted that her commentary stemmed from “personal experience” gained over 26 seasons on the show.
Cheryl remarked that the “aggressive” backlash she faced, including instances of body-shaming, was unacceptable.
“I know I did my best with the information available and what I saw in real-time,” Cheryl emphasized. “For those who believe body-shaming is acceptable, especially in front of children, it sends a significant message about your values, and it clearly does not include kindness.”
@cherylburkeofficial After taking a day to really sit with everything — the feedback from my guest judging, the body-shaming remarks, the kind words, the harsh ones, and everything in between — here’s where I’m at… @Dancing with the Stars #DWTS #dwts #dancingwiththestars
She concluded, “I was merely fulfilling my role as a judge, providing feedback derived from nearly 20 years of experience. If my score differed from the other judges, it was only by a single point. I’ve dedicated my entire life to competing in ballroom dancing.”
After her appearance on the October 28 episode of DWTS, Cheryl faced some backlash as her scores were lower than those of fellow judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli.
Viewers believe that Cheryl’s remarks regarding the body-shaming comments she received were directed at Alix’s stepmother Ashley Earle (née Dupré).
Ashley criticized the professional dancer by saying she should “go take more Ozempic” after Cheryl assigned Alix a lower score during last week’s Halloween episode. (Cheryl has repeatedly denied using the weight-loss drug.) Ashley later apologized for the comment.
“I wanted to take a moment to apologize for making insensitive comments amid the competition,” she stated in a TikTok video on Friday, October 31. “My protective instincts as a stepmother took over. I never wish to make anyone feel bad.”
Ashley added, “In fact, I aim to uplift others. If you follow me, you know my values. I’m sorry my actions didn’t align with that. Wishing everyone a wonderful Halloween.”
