After being snubbed from 'Dancing with the Stars,' Artem Chigvintsev faces personal and legal challenges, including struggle to find a new job, anger management, arrest, and divorce.
- October 5, 2024
AceShowbiz - After being cut from "Dancing with the Stars," Artem Chigvintsev sought work in construction, a move that did not sit well with him according to his ex Nikki Garcia. On October 3, the former WWE star, 40, was granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order shortly after filing for divorce from Chigvintsev. The order followed his August 29 arrest on accusations of corporal injury to a spouse, though the District Attorney later declined to file criminal charges.
Garcia's filing, reviewed by PEOPLE, claimed that Chigvintsev had been "cut from the upcoming season" of the dance show a week prior to the domestic violence incident and "had not been able to find other work as a dancer." His shift to construction work reportedly made him feel it was "beneath him." She further asserted that Chigvintsev had been growing increasingly angry since being cut from the show.
In a prior appearance on Garcia's podcast, "The Bellas," Chigvintsev had expressed his shock about being cut from the show. "It's like going through a breakup after 10 years," he lamented. The couple shares a 4-year-old son, Matteo, and has been estranged since the altercation that led to Garcia filing for divorce on September 11, ending their two-year marriage.
Chigvintsev, for his part, has filed his own request for a restraining order, claiming that Garcia was the primary aggressor in the incident. The court has scheduled a full hearing on October 21.
Nikki's twin sister, Brie Garcia, expressed her emotional turmoil on their podcast, "The Nikki & Brie Show." "It's so hard," Brie said, urging listeners to "not take the s*** anymore." She likened her feelings of sadness to the pain of a loss and emphasized the importance of women stepping away from toxic situations.
"Nikki's number one priority has always been the well-being of her son," a representative for Nikki said, adding that she decided to file for a restraining order to protect herself and her child. Although she requested not to press charges, she felt it necessary for Chigvintsev to be held accountable.
The accusations and legal actions have undoubtedly cast a shadow over the personal and professional lives of both Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev, making their separation a complex public affair. As both parties navigate their way through this difficult time, the focus remains on their young son and their own healing processes.
