'DWTS'' Cheryl Burke Talks 'Pattern Of Dating Abusive Men' Before Marrying Matthew Lawrence

"Dancing with the Stars" pro Cheryl Burke got candid about her history of dating abusive men, revealing that her husband, Matthew Lawrence, was her first healthy relationship.

On Friday, Burke, 36, shared a video titled "My Experience with Abusive Relationships" on YouTube, where she spoke about the string of abusive relationships she endured. She said that she had moved too fast when it comes to relationships, losing her virginity at 13, and didn't associate sex with love or intimacy.

"It was something that I did because I felt like I had to, in a way, just to keep a boyfriend," the dancer said. "Even after I graduated high school and into my professional dancing career, I was still into those types of bad-boy relationships, and I continued on the pattern of dating abusive men. I also was abusing myself by drinking too much and just really had no respect for myself.”

Burke shared that she was on a destructive pattern of dating until she met Lawrence in 2007. They split after a year of dating but rekindled their romance in 2017 and tied the knot last year.

"Looking back, I honestly think that the first relationship I ever had that did not fit this abusive pattern was when my now-husband Matt and I dated the first time around back in 2007," she shared.

"I honestly think at the time when we first dated, I didn’t clearly love myself enough to think that I deserved to be with someone who was actually nice to me," she explained. "And I was just wrapped up in this new get-out-of-jail-free card, L.A.-party lifestyle, whereas he had already kind of been there and done that, since he grew up in this industry."

Burke is happy that she and Lawrence reunited three years ago when she was ready to settle down. She couldn’t contain her joy over finding someone who was the complete opposite of everything bad about her previous relationships.

"I think when I look back on this time in my life, I could sit here and say that I wish these things had never happened to me, but I look at it now as every part of my story has helped me to become the woman I am today,” she added.

Youtube and social media users expressed shock over Burke's revelations in the comments. They also thanked her for sharing her experiences and giving those in abusive relationships the courage to fight.

"Incredible courage, Cheryl, to step up and relive dark times of your life in order to help others. God bless," one commented.

"Thank you for speaking about your experiences. You're helping a lot of people," another wrote.