“Dancing With the Stars” pro Cheryl Burke, who is partnered this season with Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby, has tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19, she announced Sunday in a tearful video.
“I have really bad news: I am positive, which means I have COVID,” Burke, 37, told followers on Instagram in a video uploaded Sunday evening. ”I just got the news now and I have been anticipating just waiting around since 7 this morning.”
Holding back tears, Burke said she “just feel(s) so bad” for Rigsby and felt overwhelmed by the test result coming in just a day before the live competition show was set to tape a new episode on Monday. The dancer, who received the Moderna vaccine, said she’ll have to quarantine at home for 10 days, per CDC guidelines for vaccinated people who test positive.
USA TODAY has reached out to ABC for comment.
“Not only do I feel scared and at a loss for words, I do feel run-down a little bit. And I feel really sad, because I don’t want to let Cody down,” Burke said. “Our freaking salsa was so good.”
The dancer received an outpouring of support on social media from fans and fellow “DWTS” competitors, including “The Talk” co-host Amanda Kloots and country singer Jimmie Allen. Rigsby has not yet publicly commented.
“I just hope I didn’t spread it,” Burke added. ”For those of you who don’t think COVID is a real thing, it’s (expletive) real, dude. … I don’t know what to say. I’ll be in bed. God, I can’t believe this happened.”
Rigsby, who gained notoriety as a fitness influencer with Peloton, made his “DWTS” debut with Burke last week with a tango to Dua Lipa’s “Physical” that featured a nod to his exercise bike roots. The duo tied for 9th place out of 15 competitors with a score of 24 out of 40.
Rigsby said earlier this month at a press event for the show that he planned to rely on his loyal army of exercise enthusiasts to help him on the show. “I definitely think there is an advantage there,” he said. Rigsby also had his first job as professional dancer in New York City, prior to finding his star career in fitness.
“It definitely has given me some skills,” he said. “I have rhythm most of the time.”
Contributing: Bryan Alexander
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