Nearly three years after their divorce was finalised, actor Matthew Lawrence has chosen to speak publicly for the first time about his split from former Dancing with the Stars professional Cheryl Burke. While Burke has been open about her grief, Lawrence opted for silence until now, explaining his reasons in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.
Navigating a Public Split: Silence vs. Openness
The former couple, married from May 2019 until Burke filed for divorce in February 2022, finalised their separation that September. Since then, their approaches have diverged sharply. Burke, 41, has discussed the split on podcasts, admitting she still grieves the marriage and suggesting that being the primary earner may have caused tension.
Lawrence, however, chose a different path. He told the Daily Mail that navigating private life in the public eye is challenging, especially when control over the narrative is lost. "Especially when you don't really have control of the narrative or if the narrative isn't even true, you kind of just have to say, 'Well, I'm going to have to just go on with my life,'" he explained. He added that growing a "thick skin" was necessary in the wake of what he described as false stories about their marriage and divorce.
Moving Forward with a New Chapter and New Project
Lawrence, 45, has since moved on romantically with Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas, the Grammy-winning singer from the R&B group TLC. The pair met at a 90's Con event and developed a friendship that turned romantic in the summer of 2022. They have largely kept their relationship private but are now stepping into the spotlight together as hosts of a new reality dating series, Second Chance Love, premiering on Hallmark+ on 1 January.
The show, which reunites former couples in Sardinia, Italy, appealed to them precisely because it wasn't focused on their own relationship. "It wasn't about our relationship or doing a reality show about us. That was not going to be cool for us," Lawrence stated. Both he and Chilli, 54, insisted they would "never ever" want a reality TV show based on their personal lives.
Reflection and Growth Post-Divorce
Despite his previous silence, Lawrence has acknowledged that the divorce was a profound personal test. In a past statement to Entertainment Tonight, he said, "I learned so much about myself, and I'm so thankful and blessed for the opportunity to grow and that's what came out of it."
As for the future, Chilli is focusing on TLC's upcoming Farewell Tour and a new musical based on the group's story, while Lawrence continues his acting career. Their collaborative venture into hosting marks a new, shared professional chapter, built on a foundation they prefer to keep away from the relentless glare of the public spotlight.
