Nikki Garcia initiates divorce from Artem Chigvintsev following his domestic violence arrest
Nikki Garcia, a star of WWE and reality television, is in the process of divorcing her husband, professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev, shortly after his arrest in California on charges of felony domestic violence.
As per court documents reviewed by YSL News, Garcia filed for divorce on Wednesday. She is legally known as Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace. The couple first met on “DWTS” in 2017 and tied the knot in 2022, and they share a son, Matteo Artemovich, who is four years old.
YSL News has reached out to representatives for both parties for statements regarding the situation. TMZ was the first outlet to disclose this information.
Chigvintsev, aged 42, was taken into custody around 10 a.m. on August 29 and was held in Napa County jail. He was released on bail of $25,000 approximately three hours later.
Neither Garcia nor Chigvintsev has publicly commented on his arrest; however, Garcia made a public appearance at a hot dog eating contest featuring Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi over the Labor Day weekend.
Chigvintsev, who achieved victory in Season 29 of “DWTS” alongside Kaitlyn Bristowe in 2020 and finished fourth with Charity Lawson in the last season, has been a contestant on the ABC show for ten years except for a break in 2019. He was not included in the recently announced Season 33 cast.
A few days prior to Chigvintsev’s arrest, the couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary.
On August 26, Garcia shared a video montage from their wedding day on social media, adding the lyrics to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in the post. She reflected on asking for divine guidance about her feelings for Artem, describing those feelings as intense and rapid and noting that it was during this time that her love for him began to manifest.
If you’re experiencing domestic violence, you can contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) to speak discreetly with trained advocates via online chat or phone. They can assist victims in crafting a safety plan for themselves and their children if necessary (800-799-7233).
