On Sunday, TLC aired a two-hour documentary called "Breaking the Silence" to "shine a light on the challenging journey faced by those affected by child sexual abuse, as well as offer useful information where people can turn for help." Jill and Jessa Duggar were scheduled to open up about their history with child molestation on the commercial-free documentary, and "Dancing With The Stars" pro Cheryl Burke also got on to open up about her somewhat similar past.
The 31-year-old dancer spoke about her experiences with sexual abuse as a child and shared her heartbreaking story, according to Entertainment Tonight. "I still go through times when I'm down," she revealed. "I don't feel like I'm that strong woman that people think I am today."
She was in kindergarten when the abuse began after her father had moved out and when they got a divorce, her mother asked a 60-something-year-old neighbor to look after Burke, and this is where things got disturbing. He would pick her up from school often and a lot of it happened in his van.
"He would cuddle me, he would make me watch pornographic videos. He was kind of like that fatherly figure," she explained. "I think he knew my weakness, that I was very insecure. He knew that no one was ever around. I couldn't speak up for myself, it was hard for me to say no. In a weird way it was like I didn't want to hurt him."
At just six years old, she testified against him and he was sentenced to 20 years in jail. She picked up dance as an "escape from reality" and this is where she was able to try to move on from this horrible experience. She was able to build her confidence and realize that she doesn't need other people to make her happy.
"I'm only human," she said. "And sometimes the stuff I've gone through, I think about all the time, and it just brings me back. I'm proof that you can actually move on from this."
Back in 2011, Burke opened up about these issues in her book "Dancing Lessons." Not only was it this man who molested her, but she also had two former boyfriends who physically abused her.
"I'm telling my story," she told People at the time. "They're not secrets. There's no shame. If I can help just one person, for me that's all that matters."
Thank you for everything you do! You guys are an amazing organization. #survivor #breakthesilence https://t.co/2V9ixqDDWW
— Cheryl Burke (@CherylBurke) August 31, 2015
See me on @tlc's Breaking the Silence tomorrow at 10/9c and learn something about me you may have never known. #victimofchildabuse #survivor #bringingawareness #bethevoice A photo posted by Cheryl Burke (@cherylburke) on Aug 29, 2015 at 12:54pm PDT
