Cheryl Burke Recalls Testifying in Court at Age 9 Against Caretaker Who Sexually Abused Her: 'They Wouldn't Even Let My Mom Come'

Mar. 15, 2025

Cheryl Burke.Photo:Monica Schipper/Getty

Cheryl Burke 2023

Monica Schipper/Getty

Cheryl Burkeis opening up about a tough moment from her childhood.

“I almost was already gaslighting myself,” she admitted. “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 was 9. And I was thinking to myself, ‘Am I making this s— up?’ I was literally saying saying this to myself.”

Cheryl Burke.Corine Solberg/Getty

Cheryl Burke attends the United Ukrainian Ballet performance of “Giselle” at the Segerstrom Center For The Arts on June 29, 2023

Corine Solberg/Getty

Unable to process the trauma, Burke said she internalized her emotions, which led to unhealthy thoughts.

“I already felt, at 9 years old, like, I was the pedophile,” she revealed. “That’s how they made me feel.”

She later added: “The quiet version of me was dangerous because the voices in my head got louder.”

“But I’m not forgiving,” she clarified. “I don’t want people to take this the wrong way, like I’m forgiving him for molesting.”

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Looking back, Burke said her journey to healing began when she found out her abuser had other underaged victims as well.

Cheryl Burke.David Becker/Getty for iHeartRadio

Cheryl Burke

David Becker/Getty for iHeartRadio

“It wasn’t just me,” she noted. “A whole bunch of kids came out, and that was when I stopped the gaslighting and all of it.”

Still, Burke said she understands that not everyone is able to have the experience she did.

“It’s society today, man,” Burke continued. “It’s just getting worse when it comes to… like, why would anyone ever wanna come out and say their truth when the person who’s the victim is feeling like they’re doing something wrong? And it’s so easy to gaslight somebody and this whole statute of limitations. It’s all bulls— because it takes decades, if not lifetimes, to finally realize or have some sort of awareness that, ‘Yeah, maybe I did get raped.’”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

source: people.com