A single point on the judges’ scoreboard sent shockwaves through the Dancing With the Stars community when Alix Earle’s stepmom, Ashley Dupré Earle, launched a highly personal and controversial jab at guest judge Cheryl Burke’s appearance. This unexpected moment not only overshadowed an impressive performance but also reignited the ongoing conversation around celebrity body image and the public scrutiny female stars often endure.
On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the Halloween-themed episode of Dancing With the Stars season 34 delivered a night of spooky spectacle and intense competition. Social media sensation Alix Earle and her professional partner, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, captivated audiences with a “zombified tango” to Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend.” Their performance was widely praised, with the core judging panel—Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli—all awarding perfect 10s.
However, the night’s guest judge, former DWTS pro Cheryl Burke, held up a single 9, preventing Earle and Chmerkovskiy from achieving a perfect score. While Earle herself appeared delighted with her episode-high 39 out of 40, an off-screen reaction quickly escalated into a viral moment.
The Unfiltered ‘Ozempic’ Comment That Stirred the Pot
Following the scoring, Alix Earle’s stepmom, Ashley Dupré Earle, shared a video on her TikTok account. The video captured her live reaction to the judges’ scores, surrounded by Earle’s younger siblings. As Cheryl Burke revealed her 9 paddle, Dupré’s exasperation boiled over into a shocking personal attack. “Oh, go take more Ozempic,” she shouted at the screen.
The comment, referencing the popular weight-loss drug, immediately prompted questions from the children present. “Go take more Ozempic?” one asked, to which Dupré doubled down on her crude call-out: “What? She looks weird. Doesn’t even look like her,” as reported by TikTok.
Cheryl Burke’s Distinguished DWTS History and Judging Philosophy
Cheryl Burke is hardly a newcomer to the Dancing With the Stars stage, having served as a professional dancer for an impressive 26 seasons. She joined the show in season 2 and remained a beloved staple until her retirement at the end of season 31. Her return as a guest judge was meant to be a celebration of her legacy and expertise.
Burke’s judging on “Halloween Night” was characterized by a tendency to give slightly lower scores than her fellow judges, always accompanied by thoughtful, constructive criticism. After Derek Hough lauded Earle’s tango as “chilling, intense, and sharply controlled,” Burke echoed the praise, calling the performance “full of passion and fire.” She added, “you did all of it, girl. You really are amazing.” However, she tempered her praise by noting a critical professional standard: “I hate that you broke hold,” referring to a momentary severing of the physical connection between partners, often done to execute complex maneuvers, as detailed by Entertainment Weekly. This type of feedback is precisely what Alix Earle herself has stated she values, telling cohost Julianne Hough that she wants to “learn as much as possible, even if it means a few tears and bruises.”
A History of Public Scrutiny: Burke’s Stance on Body Image
The “Ozempic” jab was particularly potent given Cheryl Burke’s previous public statements regarding her physical appearance and the relentless scrutiny she has faced throughout her career. In May, Burke took to TikTok to directly address viewers’ intrusive comments about her body. In a video caption, she emphatically stated, “I’m not on Ozempic. I’m not sick. I didn’t get ‘a new face.'” She concluded with a powerful message: “Stop dissecting women’s bodies like they belong to you. This is your reminder: I don’t owe you an explanation for my healing or for anything quite frankly. Let this be the last time I have to say it.”
Burke has been candid about her journey towards a healthier lifestyle in her 40s, revealing to People that she lost 35 pounds not for aesthetic reasons, but due to natural changes in her body. “I’ve noticed not only my skin changing into mature skin, but also just my metabolism has changed quite a lot,” she explained. She also highlighted the profound impact her dancing career had on her body image, constantly being “stuck in front of mirrors” and adhering to strict weight standards imposed by coaches.
The Broader Conversation: Celebrity Bodies and Online Commentary
This incident transcends a mere scoring dispute on a reality show. It thrusts Cheryl Burke back into a familiar spotlight, one where her body is judged and speculated upon. It also reflects a concerning trend of increasing public commentary on celebrities’ perceived weight loss, often attributed to drugs like Ozempic, regardless of the individual’s actual health journey.
For fans of Dancing With the Stars and broader pop culture, this event sparks important discussions:
- The appropriateness of personal attacks from family members of contestants towards judges.
- The persistent issue of body shaming, particularly directed at women in the entertainment industry.
- The double standards applied to public figures regarding their physical appearance and health.
- The role of social media in amplifying both support and criticism, often without full context.
A Call for Respect in the Fan Community
As a fan community, we celebrate talent, dedication, and the artistry of performance. While passionate reactions are natural, the incident involving Ashley Dupré Earle’s comment serves as a stark reminder of the line between constructive criticism of a performance and harmful personal attacks. Cheryl Burke’s long-standing career on DWTS and her consistent advocacy for body positivity underscore the importance of fostering a respectful and supportive environment, even amidst the competitive fervor of reality television.
