Exclusive: Dancing Romance Called Off!

• Feb 6, 2008 06:09 PM ET
• by Michael Ausiello

Now that I think about it, Cheryl Burke didn't seem like her usual perky self when I interviewed her last Friday backstage at the Dancing with the Stars Tour. And now I know why.

Burke's publicist confirms to me exclusively that the two-time Dancing champ and her boyfriend of a year, actor Matthew Lawrence, have broken up. "I can confirm that Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence quietly ended their relationship a few weeks ago," says the rep.

The pair met in 2006 through Matthew's brother, Season 3 Dancing contestant Joey Lawrence, but didn't start dating until early '07.

In related news, this is my third Dancing-related blog post in less than a week - and that's not including this week's vodcast or all the cast interviews that just went up on our video page. How did this happen?!

Oh, right. The strike.