“Dancing with the Stars” pro Sharna Burgess is sharing her heartbreak after a devastating mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia, a place she has long held close to her heart.
The Australian-born dancer reacted on social media after learning of the tragedy, which left at least 15 people dead and dozens more injured, according to reports from NBC News and local authorities.
Burgess Reacts to Bondi Beach Shooting
GettyAfter news of the shooting broke, Burgess took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, December 14, to express her grief and disbelief.
“My heart is absolutely shattered to read about the mass shooting on Bondi Beach,” Burgess wrote. “A place I love so deeply, that I’ve always felt safe in, that I’ve always felt proud of. This news doesn’t read like that of my home country, it reads like the devastation I see constantly here in America and that breaks my heart even further.”
She continued with a powerful message about the shock of such violence occurring in Australia.
“This is not the Aussie way, this is not who we are as a people. Guns? Mass shootings? When did we fall so far. My love, my tears, my anger, my rage, and my deepest condolences are for all my fellow Australians who lost someone, who have someone fighting for their life, who have been hurt and ALL who have been affected. No words will make it better, but know my heart is with you.”
Details About the Deadly Incident
According to the New South Wales Police Force, the shooting occurred on December 14 when two men, identified as a father and son, opened fire in the Bondi Beach area.
As per CNN, fifteen people were killed, and at least 40 others were injured. Police fatally shot a 50-year-old man at the scene, while his 24-year-old son was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Support From Fellow DWTS Stars
Burgess is not the only member of the “Dancing with the Stars” family to speak out. Former DWTS professional dancer Sasha Farber, who is also Australian, shared his own message on Instagram.
“This is a horrible nightmare,” Farber wrote, alongside a broken heart emoji. He also added the hashtag #BondiBeach and later wrote, “Left with no words.”
Fans flooded his comments with messages of support, including “So heartbreaking,” “Sending you love and a lot of hugs, Sasha,” and “Love and prayers are with you all.”
Burgess maintains strong ties to Australia and frequently returns home. She regularly travels back to host “Dancing with the Stars Australia” and has often spoken about her deep connection to the country and pride in its culture.
She is not the only Australian alum from the franchise. Fellow “Dancing with the Stars” pros Peta Murgatroyd and Kym Herjavec have also expressed support following the tragedy.
As Bondi Beach mourns, Burgess’ words reflect the shared heartbreak of Australians around the world, grieving a devastating act of violence in a place long regarded as safe and beloved.
