'Dancing With the Stars' alum Cheryl Burke expresses concern and offers words of wisdom to Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev following his domestic violence arrest and her subsequent divorce filing.
- September 21, 2024
AceShowbiz - In a message shared with People, Cheryl Burke expressed her concern and support for former "Dancing With the Stars" costar Artem Chigvintsev and his estranged wife, Nikki Garcia, amidst their ongoing divorce. Burke noted that she hopes everyone involved, including their son Matteo, is coping well and prioritizing their well-being.
"This is just a really unfortunate situation, and I just hope everybody's OK," Burke said. "I hope that Nikki and Artem are protecting their heart, and I hope that, more importantly, their son is OK."
Burke shared her personal experience of divorce, having finalized her separation from Matthew Lawrence in 2022. She advised Garcia and Chigvintsev to take their time to heal, even if that means putting their careers on hold. "It's not easy, but I believe if you just give the time that you need to grieve, we all grieve differently," she said. "It's important to choose you and to protect you."
In an earlier episode of her podcast, "Sex, Lies and Spray Tans", Burke admitted to being shocked by the news of Chigvintsev's arrest. "It's so shocking. I get kind of emotional," she said. "My heart goes out to everyone involved."
Garcia filed for divorce on September 13, following Chigvintsev's arrest on August 29 on a felony charge of corporal injury to a spouse. Burke's words of wisdom stem from her own experience with divorce and her desire for everyone involved in this situation to prioritize their healing and well-being.
