Nikki Garcia’s life changed in an instant after Artem Chigvintsev’s arrest in August. Now…
Nikki Garcia Breaks Her Silence On “Heartbreaking” Divorce From Artem Chigvintsev
For 15 years, Nikki Garcia made a living showcasing her physical prowess in the wrestling arena. Her toughness and stamina were a given whenever she and sister Brie Garcia—known professionally as the Bella Twins—entered the ring.
Over the past few months, however, Nikki has been tapping into a different reserve of strength.
“All I need to do is focus on my healing,” she said on the Dec. 2 episode of The Nikki & Brie Show. “I need to focus on Matteo‘s healing.”
Just three days after Nikki and husband Artem Chigvintsev marked their second wedding anniversary on Aug. 26 with respective tender Instagram posts, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in Napa, Calif., where they shared a home.
The case was dropped, prosecutors announcing Sept. 24 that they were not filing charges against the Dancing With the Stars pro based on “careful evaluation of the evidence presented” to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office.
But Nikki, who met Artem when she was paired with him on DWTS‘ 25th season in 2017, had already made her legal move: She filed for divorce Sept. 11, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason and asking for full legal and physical custody of their 4-year-old son, Matteo. She listed their date of separation as the day Artem was arrested.
Artem countered with a filing for joint custody, and then there were dueling requests for restraining orders, the dancer saying his estranged wife was the aggressor in their Aug. 29 altercation after she alleged that he attacked her.
But, citing their ongoing intention to do what’s best for their son, Nikki and Artem settled their divorce in November.
Meanwhile, during the time she and her ex retreated to their respective corners, the WWE alum stayed quiet about what she was really going through.
David Becker/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024
She rallied for a work appearance four days after Artem’s arrest, co-hosting Netflix’s live “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef” hotdog-eating event with Rob Riggle.
“Thank you, everyone,” she told the audience. “I’m so happy to be here.” When a fan offered up some supportive words from the crowd, Nikki turned toward the voice and said, “I love you, too.”
But she ultimately took three months off from The Nikki & Brie Show, knowing that their podcast audience has grown to expect a certain level of candor from her, and therefore staying away until she was ready to give it to them.
In the meantime, she was spotted with Brie doing some early Halloween shopping, the pair emerging from a Napa Valley store Sept. 20 with a cart-full of pumpkins.
Brie returned to the mic, telling listeners on the Sept. 23 return of The Nikki & Brie Show (the first new episode since Aug. 28) that her sister was focused on moving forward with Matteo and would be returning to the podcast soon.
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
“Nikki isn’t here because, as you all know, she’s going through something personal in her life,” Brie noted, “and she just asks for her privacy for her and her family, so we’re going to give that. But she sees all the support and love.”
Just as it’s been forever with her big sister (by 16 minutes), in the ring or out, Brie has had Nikki’s back.
While Nikki didn’t comment on the decision not to charge Artem, Brie seemingly offered a reaction: “The truth always comes out in the end, no matter how hard anyone tried to hide it or stop it,” read a graphic she posted to her Instagram Story Sept. 25. “Lies are just a temporary delay to the inevitable.”
Part of the inevitable was that the twins would reunite on their podcast and Nikki—who historically has been quite candid about the ups and downs of her relationship with Artem—would do what she thinks is best for her and her son.
“I would say motherhood and parenthood is definitely so much harder than I would have ever imagined just because you have two different people,” the Total Bellas alum told E! News in July 2023. “Like, you’re already trying to make a marriage work, we’re already merging that.”
But she and Artem “did things a little different,” Nikki continued. “We had the kid first and then marriage—so trying to be on the same page with everything, it’s difficult, and definitely something we work on.”
Ultimately, however, it didn’t work, and she was admittedly heartbroken.
“You dream of having this family, and you have this incredible love,” she said on the Dec. 2 episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, her first episode back since Artem’s arrest, “and it just goes the other way. And you go from having a great love story to having a terrible one, and—never saw any of it coming. You know, as far as what the ending would be. So it’s just been a struggle.”
Staying off social media helped, Nikki explained, and helped her remember that, so long as she knows the truth, that’s what matters.
“So when some of you would come to me and tell me what people were saying or what was out there, it would affect me in some way,” she said, “but because I know the truth, and I actually lived it, it didn’t have a big effect on me.”
Keep reading for the details on what happened with Artem’s arrest and Nikki’s decision to separate that very day:
Napa County Department of Corrections
When Was Artem Chigvintsev Arrested?
Artem Chigvintsev was arrested shortly before 10 a.m. on Aug. 29, Napa County Sheriff’s Office’s Public Information Officer Henry Wofford confirmed to E! News.
Wofford noted the Dancing With the Stars pro did not was resist and was taken to the Napa County Department of Corrections. Chigvintsev was booked on a charge of felony domestic violence with a bail set at $25,000, per online records.
Kelsey McNeal/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
When Was Artem Chigvintsev Released From Custody?
The professional dancer posted bail and was released from custody at 2:18 p.m. on Aug.29, Wofford confirmed to E! News. A court date has yet to be announced.
Kelsey McNeal/ABC via Getty Images
What Else Have Authorities Said About Artem Chigvintsev’s Arrest?
While Wofford told NBC News Chigvintsev was arrested in Yountville, Calif, he did not reveal the exact location due to a request for privacy from the alleged victim.
As a result of this request, he added, the Sheriff is also not releasing the name, gender or age of the alleged victim or the individual’s relationship to Chigvintsev. However, Wofford did have this to say about the arrest.
“When someone is charged with felony domestic violence usually this means there is a visible injury or credible eyewitness,” he told E! News, “our deputies felt comfortable arresting him on felony domestic violence charges.”
“Of course this could change with more evidence that might come through,” Wofford continued, “but at the time of the arrest the deputies felt it was a felony charge instead of a misdemeanor.”
He also shared why victims may choose to keep personal information private in these cases.
“Some victims may not feel comfortable sharing all details at time the suspect is arrested,” Wofford noted. “Some victims feel embarrassed, threatened, or fear the incident may impact their family. We have to give victims adequate time and support, which help them realize we are here to help.”
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
In an audio recording shared by TMZ Aug. 30, a dispatcher can be heard saying Chigvintsev had initially called 911 to request medical attention after an argument in which shoes were allegedly thrown at him. However, the dispatcher said the 42-year-old later stated that medical help was no longer needed.
Still, Wofford said authorities continued with their check.
“For domestic violence, if someone picks up the phone and says, ‘You don’t have to come after all,’ we’re still going to go for a welfare check,” he told Page Six. “We’re not just going to stop what we’re doing.”
Kelsey McNeal/ABC via Getty Images
What Has Artem Chigvintsev Said About the Arrest?
As of Aug. 30, Chigvintsev has yet to speak publicly on the arrest or 911 call. E! News has reached out to his rep for comment but has yet to hear back.
David Livingston/Getty Images
Will the Arrest Affect Artem Chigvintsev’s Future on Dancing With the Stars?
Chigvintsev’s arrest came less than three weeks prior to Dancing With the Stars’ season 33 premiere. However, the past Mirrorball winner—who’s appeared on 12 seasons of the competition series—was not set to be a part of this season’s cast, Page Six and Variety reported.
E! News has reached out to ABC for comment but has yet to hear back.
Instagram/Nikki Garcia
Has Artem Chigvintsev’s Wife Nikki Garcia Said Anything About His Arrest?
A rep for Nikki Garcia—who met Chigvintsev when they were paired together on season 25 of Dancing With the Stars in 2017—spoke out about his arrest the day after his booking and release.
“This is a private matter,” the rep told E! News Aug. 30, “and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”
Chigvintsev’s arrest came three days after he and Garcia—who share 4-year-old son Matteo—celebrated their second wedding anniversary.
“Happy anniversary my love,” the ballroom dancer wrote on Instagram Aug. 26. “can’t see my life with out you. You are my everything.”
In her own post, the former WWE star quoted the lyrics from Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and posted throwback footage of the couple in Paris, where they got married in 2022.
“This song is our love story,” she wrote in the caption. “I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God. How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on. And that’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be. Happy Anniversary @theartemc I love you!”
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images/Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Have Any Dancing With the Stars Pros Spoken Out About Artem Chigvintsev’s Arrest?
Shortly after Chigvintsev’s arrest, Cheryl Burke—who retired as a Dancing With the Stars pro in 2022 after 26 seasons on the show—shared her reaction to the news.
Noting Chigvintsev is someone she grew up with and lived with at one time, Burke said on her podcast Sex, Lies and Spray Tans that she was in “complete shock” over his arrest.
“My heart goes out to everyone involved,” she shared on the Aug. 30 episode, noting it was recorded the day before. “It’s just really hard for me because he was my family. I don’t know what to say here other than I hope everybody’s OK.”
In a clip of her podcast posted to TikTok, Burke also shared resources.
JOCE/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
What Is Happening to Artem Chigvintsev’s Domestic Violence Case?
Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley shared on Sept. 24, 2024, that her office will not be filing charges against Chigvintsev following a “thorough review of the criminal investigation and careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the DA’s Office.”
“If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available,” she wrote in the caption. “Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to…https://www.thehotline.org/.”
Does Artem Chigvintsev Have Custody of His and Nikki Garcia’s Son Matteo?
In a Sept. 25, 2024 statement to E! News, Chigvintsev said he was “incredibly relieved and grateful” that his domestic violence charge was dropped.
“This has been an extremely difficult time for me,” he shared. “I am thankful that the truth has prevailed.”
The dancer added that he is “hopeful” in securing an equal co-parenting arrangement with Garcia, who requested for sole legal and physical custody of their son Matteo in her to Sept. 11 divorce filing.
Chigvintsev said, “I look forward to moving past this chapter and focusing on what truly matters—continue being the best father I can be.”
Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images
Has Nikki Garcia Made Allegations Against Artem Chigvintsev?
Garcia obtained a restraining order against her ex after stating in a petition obtained by TMZ that Chigvintsev “tackled me multiple times and pinned me to the ground while our child was present.”
“Due to the incident that led to Artem’s arrest on August 29, 2024, Nikki has decided to file for a temporary Domestic Violence Restraining Order to protect herself and her son,” Nikki’s reps said in a statement TMZ. “Although Nikki requested that the Napa District Attorney not file charges against Artem as she did not want him to go to jail, he must still be held accountable for his actions, and Nikki and her son must be protected.”
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(Originally published Sept. 29, 2024, at 7 a.m. PT)
