Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence’s Relationship Timeline

The good and the bad. After a decade-long pause, Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence rekindled their romance in 2017, but five years later, they split for good.

The Dancing With the Stars pro and the Boy Meets World alum began dating in 2007, before going their separate ways a year later. The couple reconnected in February 2017 and quickly started planning their future together.

“We really want to do it right. We want to do the steps of being engaged, moving in together, getting married and having kids,” Burke exclusively told Us Weekly in October 2017. “I’m not getting any younger. We want kids and all of that, so we’ll see what happens.”

Six months later, Lawrence told Us what the key to making their relationship work, saying, “We’re really good friends and that’s where it all starts.”

The Brotherly Love alum added: “I think we have really good companionship and I think we just built from there. That’s the most important thing. We can actually hang out. When we go away together, we really enjoy it. When it’s just the two of us, it’s the best.”

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The Mrs. Doubtfire actor asked Burke to marry him a month later, in May 2018, with the same diamond her late father, Steve Burke, gave to her mother.

Burke, who chose to become sober shortly after getting engaged, said that Lawrence has been her “rock” amid her sobriety journey. “I don’t know where I would be without him,” she said on an October 2020 episode of Good Morning America.

She later reflected on her relationship with the Jumping Ship actor in a December 2020 YouTube video. The dancer noted that her history of “dating abusive men” stopped when she met Lawrence, whom she married in May 2019.

“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,” Burke admitted. “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 added that Lawrence is the “complete opposite of everything bad about my past relationships” and she is “so grateful and happy” that the universe brought them back together.

Us Weekly confirmed in February 2022 that Burke filed for divorce after nearly three years of marriage. The professional dancer listed their date of separation as one month prior, according to court documents.

Scroll down to relive the highs and lows of Burke and Lawrence’s relationship over the years.

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The pair met in 2006 when the Comeback actor’s older brother, Joey Lawrence, was competing on Dancing With the Stars.

The DWTS pro and the Hot Chick actor began dating in 2007.

The two called it quits in 2008 after a year of dating.

The “Pretty Messed Up” podcast host and the Brotherly Love alum rekindled their romance in February 2017 after 10 years apart. “I’ve never seen Cheryl so happy and so at peace,” a source told Us at the time. “Matt is a wonderful presence in her life, and I can see this being it for her.”

“Adventure of a lifetime,” Burke captioned a romantic photo from her vacation with the Better Than Love actor to Grenada in July 2017. The couple also shared photos tubing, playing under waterfalls and at the beach.

The San Francisco native told Us in October 2017 that Lawrence “has been there every week” while she competed on Dancing With the Stars. “He just hides, he’s not in the audience,” she explained. “He’s there, hanging out in the press room with my publicist. But he supports. He has been there every single week. He’s been holding my hand. Every night when I come home and I’m achy, I’m like, ‘Massage my feet!’ He’s there. [He] cooks me dinner. He’s been great, such a support system.”

The Boy Meets World alum spoke with Us in April 2018 about his relationship with Burke, revealing why it works. “I think it’s because we’re really good friends and that’s where it all starts,” he said. “I think we have really good companionship and I think we just built from there.”

The pair got engaged in May 2018 while on vacation in Laguna Beach, California.

Burke shared her excitement with Us over Lawrence moving in with her in June 2018, saying, “I love is there’s no commute anymore.” She noted: “He’s actually here and he calls my home our home. It’s our home now and he’s actually really making it so that he feels comfortable … I think it was just kind of, like, a mutual decision.”

The lovebirds celebrated their impending nuptials with an engagement party in July 2018. Celebrity guests included DWTS pro Kym Johnson and her husband, Robert Herjavec, as well as Lawrence’s former costar Ben Savage.

The couple tied the knot in May 2019 at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego.

The newlyweds celebrated their first married Christmas in December 2019 with matching pajamas gifted to them by Burke’s matron of honor, Leah Remini.

“Happy birthday to my husband who loves his animals more than people. 😉,” Burke captioned a photo with Lawrence in February 2020, alongside an iguana cake for his 40th birthday.

The Dance Moms alum reflected on her first year of marriage, telling Us exclusively in April 2020 that it’s “been great.” Burke said that “it’s tested us for sure.” She noted that the coronavirus quarantine added to the ups and downs of the year, but said she feels a “sense of ease and peace now that I’m married.”

Lawrence added that couple are “doing good” despite a few spats in quarantine. “It’s just the constant communication,” he told Us, noting the couple has been focused on building a strong foundation. “When you stop that communication and when you don’t try every day is when things start to slowly fall apart.”

“5.23.19 ♥️ To the best year of my life, I wouldn’t have changed a thing,” the former Dancing With the Stars: Juniors mentor wrote via Instagram in May 2020. “Matt, I love you more every day. Happy Anniversary! One down, forever to go.”

The Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad alum bought his wife a puppy, who they named Yasbella, for their first wedding anniversary in May 2020.

“To think, a little over a year ago we were on our dream honeymoon,” Burke wrote via Instagram in June 2020, alongside a photo of the pair in the Seychelles Islands the year prior. “These days our biggest adventure is ordering Postmates, napping with our new puppy, and rhinestoning face masks! Loving our new normal as newlyweds.”

The professional dancer called her husband her “rock” during an appearance on Good Morning America in October 2020. “I don’t know where I would be without him,” she said, referencing her sobriety journey.

Burke opened up about her “pattern of dating abusive men” before marrying Lawrence during a December 2020 YouTube video. “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 admitted. “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. 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.” She said that she is “so grateful and happy” that the pair reconnected, noting, “he’s the complete opposite of everything bad about my past relationships.”

Burke treated her “Pretty Messed Up” podcast listeners to “extra special guests” in September 2021 when her husband and his brothers, Joey and Andrew Lawrence, joined the show.

“After working daily these last few months, beyond grateful to spend much needed quality time with my family. So thankful for their continued love and support on my journey,” the professional dancer wrote via Instagram in November 2021 after celebrating Thanksgiving with her husband. “If you were unable to see family, friends or loved ones this holiday weekend for whatever circumstance, do know my heart and love is with you. Sending you all so much love. ❤️❤️.”

“Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from my family to yours. Sending you all so much love,” Burke captioned a family photo in December 2021. “No matter where you are or who you’re with this holiday season, know that love is all around you. 🎄❤️ #merrychristmas #happyholidays.”

Us confirmed in February 2022 that Burke filed for divorce after nearly three years of marriage. According to court documents, she listed the date of their separation as January 7, 2022.

During an appearance on the Tamron Hall show, Burke opened up about her current relationship with Lawrence amid their divorce. “I mean, he will always have a special place in my heart for sure,” she shared. “I have so much love for him and his family forever.”

The professional dancer also discussed the former couple’s past commitment to therapy, saying, “I think it’s very important because emotions sometimes and feelings can get in the way and can get maybe misconstrued and so I’m a huge advocate for that. We definitely did try it, people evolve and people grow and sometimes they grow together and sometimes, you know, you, unfortunately, grow apart.”  

The twosome officially reached a divorce settlement, agreeing to honor their prenuptial agreement that was signed prior to their marriage, per documents obtained by Us. 

Shortly after news broke of Lawrence’s romance with TLC’s Chilli, Burke seemingly made a dig at the couple. “That was fast,” she wrote via her Instagram Story with the song “Boy’s a Liar” by PinkPantheress playing in the background.

“It tested me and 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,” Lawrence shared with Entertainment Tonight about how his divorce affected his life.