Celebrity
Artem Chigvintsev has been arrested on suspicions of domestic violence. While his victim remains unnamed, he did marry his dance partner just two years ago.
Dancing with the Stars is mere weeks away from the season 33 premiere. Fans are hyped to see which professionals will be returning and which celebrities will be competing for the Mirrorball Trophy. Not all of the news surrounding the series is good right now, though. Professional dancer Artem Chigvintstev, who has appeared in 12 seasons, has been arrested on suspicions of domestic violence. While little is known about Chigvintstev’s personal life, we do know he is married.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ pro arrested on suspicions of domestic violence
Dancing with the Stars pro dancer, Artem Chigvintsev, was arrested on Aug. 29 by police in Yountville, California. According to Variety, the 42-year-old ballroom dancer was hauled off to Napa County Jail around 10 a.m. Pacific time. He was charged with felony domestic violence.
At press time, Chigvintsev was waiting for a $25,000 bail to be posted before police could release him. The police have declined to name Chigvintsev’s alleged victim. They have requested anonymity. This is the first time that Chigvintsev has been arrested for Domestic violence. It is unclear when he is expected back in court.
Is Artem Chigvintsev Married?
Chigvintsev is married. The Dancing with the Stars pro wed Nikki Garcia (previously known as Nikki Bella) in 2022, just three years after he met her on the set of the dancing competition. Chigvintsev and the WWE star were paired together for season 25 of the series. They placed 7th.
Despite their lackluster performance on the dance floor, sparks flew. They began dating while partnered up and announced their engagement in 2019. Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella also have a child together. Their son, Matteo Chigvintsev, was born in 2020. They married in Paris in 2022 and celebrated their second wedding anniversary last week. It is unclear if Garcia is Chigvintstev’s alleged victim.
Garcia was previously engaged to John Cena. After six years together, the couple called off their engagement in 2018. The cause of their split remains unknown.
Is Artem Chigvintsev still on ‘Dancing with the Stars’?
News of Chigvintsev’s arrest calls into question the upcoming Dancing with the Stars season. While ABC has not yet announced all of the pros and celebrities who will be competing for the Mirrorball Trophy this year, Chigvintsev was rumored to be one of the professionals, although that rumor was apparently false.
Chigvintsev last appeared in season 32 of Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with Charity Lawson. They finished in fourth place. Chigvintsev finished in first place just once in 12 seasons. TVLine reached out to the production team for comment. A representative said that Chigvintsev was not slated to appear in season 33 of the series, even before his arrest. The season, which will premiere on Sept. 17, is unaffected by the arrest.
ABC has yet to officially reveal all of the professionals and celebrities who will appear in the upcoming season. Stephen Nedoroscik, the pommel horse specialist who was thrust into the spotlight during the 2024 Olympics, is the only confirmed cast member as of press time.
