Matthew Lawrence talks ‘false narratives’ as he reveals why he kept quiet during divorce from ex Cheryl Burke

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For the past three years, since finalizing her divorce, Dancing with the Stars professional Cheryl Burke has been candid about her separation from Matthew Lawrence.

During a recent episode of the I Do, Part 2 podcast, the 41-year-old former choreographer shared that she’s still healing from her divorce.

Let’s be real, healing isn’t linear. There are days I still grieve, and that’s okay. It’s not about being ‘over’ things, it’s about learning to live with them. I actually had to step away from ‘Dancing with the Stars’ to really focus on my own well-being. Honestly, I needed to fully process both of my divorces before I could truly look in the mirror and like the woman staring back at me. It was about prioritizing self-respect and self-love, and that required some serious space and time.

Lawrence, now 45 and dating TLC’s Chilli, preferred to keep things private.

In a new interview with the Daily Mail, he explained why he stayed silent about his divorce, despite what he felt were untrue stories being spread.

He explained that having a public career means your personal life becomes very public, and you end up living it under scrutiny. He added that it’s not something anyone really enjoys.

When people are spreading stories about you that aren’t true, or you can’t control what they’re saying, you have to focus on living your own life. The people who matter will know the truth.

‘And, you just have to grow thick skin and continue on,’ he added.

Lawrence and Burke were married for nearly three years, from May 2019 until February 2022, when Burke filed for divorce due to issues they couldn’t resolve. The divorce was officially completed in September 2022.

Burke hinted that her success on Dancing with the Stars and earning more money than her partner might have created problems in their relationship.

In an interview on the Amy & T.J. podcast last year, she explained that traditional gender roles can sometimes make men feel insecure if they don’t earn most of the income, and she suggested this dynamic might have been a factor in a previous situation.

She shared that they did attempt to repair their relationship, even trying couples therapy, but ultimately drifted apart due to diverging priorities and goals.

Lawrence mostly didn’t talk about the divorce, but he did say it had been a difficult experience for him.

He told Entertainment Tonight that the experience helped him understand himself better, and he felt grateful for the chance to grow as a person.

In 2022, Lawrence began dating Chilli, whose real name is Rozonda Thomas. They were first spotted together on vacation in Hawaii that August. They later shared that they initially met at a 90s-themed convention and became friends before their relationship blossomed.

The couple has generally kept their relationship private, but they’re now working together as hosts on a new dating show called Second Chance Love.

The new Hallmark+ series begins January 1st and follows five former couples as they travel to Sardinia, Italy, to explore whether their old feelings remain.

Lawrence and Chilli liked the idea for the show, especially because it wasn’t meant to be about displaying their romance.

Lawrence explained to the Daily Mail that the movie centers around whether a past love could have a future, or if it’s better left behind. He said Hallmark specifically wanted to explore that theme.

It wasn’t about sharing our relationship with the public, or turning our lives into a reality show. We both knew that wouldn’t work for us.

The duo stated they have no interest in having a reality show about their lives. Chilli is happy with Lawrence continuing his acting career, while she concentrates on her music with TLC, alongside Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins and the late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes.

She said she wasn’t currently involved in his projects, but she would always be a supporter of his work.

Currently, TLC is preparing for their upcoming Farewell Tour, and Chilli estimates it could run for ‘two or three years.’

I’m so excited for the premiere of CrazySexyCool: The TLC Musical! It’s finally coming to Washington, D.C. in June 2026, and thankfully, it’ll be running all the way through August, so hopefully everyone gets a chance to see it.

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2026-01-01 19:42