Artem Chigvintsev Responds After Nikki Garcia Says He Attacked Her

Artem Chigvintsev is sharing his side of his split from Nikki Garcia and the impending legal drama between the former pair. 

The Dancing With the Stars alum—who was taken into custody on suspicion of felony domestic violence in August—has denied Nikki's recent restraining order claims, which accused him of attacking her.

In Nikki’s filing obtained by E! News, she alleged that an argument took place over breakfast with 4-year-old son Matteo on the morning of Aug. 29.

“Artem made Matteo an English muffin,” Nikki, 40, stated in the docs. “I asked Artem if he wouldn’t mind making the English muffin a bit crispier (as is Matteo’s preference). Artem immediately began yelling at me. He was screaming about me having made Matteo a picky eater and would not let me get a word in; he continued to yell over me so that I could not speak.”

According to Nikki’s declaration, she attempted to de-escalate the situation by walking away to get Matteo’s things in the car.

“I gathered Matteo's school things and while I was walking to the front door, I heard Artem whisper something about ‘mom’ to Matteo under his breath,” she continued. “I ignored this as I just wanted to get Matteo out of the house until Artem cooled off. I grabbed Matteo's shoes and told Matteo it was time to put his shoes on.”

That’s when, per Nikki, “Artem began walking toward me while yelling at me to ‘shut my mouth’ and that he ‘already told Matteo to get his shoes on.’ I was so overwhelmed by Artem yelling at me that morning; I threw Matteo's toddler size 7 shoes toward Artem. The shoes contacted Artem's leg. I acknowledge it was not right of me to throw the shoes, but I was so overwhelmed with everything that had happened that morning that I had a momentary lapse in judgment. I note that Matteo's shoes weigh hardly anything and could not have hurt Artem.”

At this point, per the declaration, Artem “became furious” and “grabbed” Matteo and ran upstairs with him.

Nikki—who filed for divorce Sept. 11—said she was afraid for her son’s safety and ran after them. When the former WWE star got upstairs, she tried to open Matteo’s closed bedroom door, but per the docs, Artem was trying to hold the door closed.

“I was able to push the door open enough to get just my arm through,” she stated in the declaration. “Through the gap in the door, I could see Matteo on his bed. He looked scared. with his eyes wide and mouth open. As soon as I got my arm in the door, Artem opened the door and tackled me to the ground outside Matteo's room. Artem grabbed my arms and held me on the ground for what felt like 20 to 30 seconds.”

“Artem then got up and went back to Matteo's room and shut the door,” Nikki continued. “I wanted to call the police, but my phone was downstairs and I was afraid to leave Matteo alone with Artem.”

After another attempt to get into Matteo’s room, Nikki alleged, another struggle ensued.

“I was able to stay on my feet initially,” she stated. “However, Artem pushed me across the hall and into our bedroom. It was all I could do to stay on my feet. Eventually, Artem was able to force me to the ground in our en-suite bathroom. Artem had his hands on my chest near my sternum and was pressing down. I felt like I was suffocating. I was grabbing at his neck (the only thing I could reach), trying to get him off me. There was nothing I could do. I think Artem saw the panic in my eyes, because he ‘snapped out of it.’ Artem got off of me and ran down the stairs."

When the police arrived, per Nikki's filing, Matteo told authorities, "Daddy hurt my hand."

And Nikki alleged this wasn't the first time Artem had displayed aggressive behavior towards her.

In her petition, she said that the 42-year-old was verbally abusive to her on multiple occasions and "violently grabbed me around my waist" to allegedly keep her from her son during a separate 2023 incident. 

According to the Total Bellas alum—who previously went by the stage name Nikki Bella—Artem became “increasingly angry” after learning he would not be returning to Dancing With the Stars for season 33, which is currently ongoing, with her stating that he was “snapping at me, and yelling.”

However, Artem disputes his estranged wife’s claims. In his response docs obtained by TMZ, the choreographer claimed Nikki was the aggressor in the Aug. 29 fight, showing pictures—published by the outlet—of injuries to his neck, elbow, and hand he alleges came from his ex. 

In his filing, the professional dancer said that he brought Matteo upstairs to protect him as the situation with Nikki escalated. He claimed that Nikki shoved her way inside the room where he and Matteo were and began attacking him, leading to them grappling on the floor. 

Artem then noted in his filing that he was the one to call 9-1-1, claiming Nikki said, "Do you understand how this is gonna go now Artem? You just ruined my career and you know it."

E! News reached out to a rep for Artem for comment but has not heard back. 

“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," a rep for Nikki told E! News on Oct. 4. "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. Nikki’s number one priority has always been the wellbeing of her son."

The statement continued, "She is thankful for all of the love and support she has received and continues to ask for privacy for her and her family during this difficult time.” 

Artem was taken into custody in Napa on Aug. 29 on a domestic violence charge and was released on $25,000 bail shortly after. Less than a month later, prosecutors announced in a press release that they would not file criminal charges against him due to a lack of evidence that provides proof "beyond a reasonable doubt." Authorities did not release the identity of the alleged victim in the case.

Following the charges being dropped, Artem expressed feeling "relieved and grateful" that the case had been put to rest. As he shared in a Sept. 25 statement to E! News, "This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed."

He also explained that his “main concern” is focusing on his son Matteo, adding, "I look forward to moving past this chapter and focusing on what truly matters—continue being the best father I can be."

And Nikki also shared a message after the dancer's arrest. 

"This is a private matter," her rep told E! News in an Aug. 30 statement, "and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time."

Read on for a full breakdown of Artem's domestic violence arrest. 

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.

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.

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.”

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."

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.

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.

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!”

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.

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/.” 

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."

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.”

For more information on domestic abuse or to get help for yourself or someone you love, visit the website for The National Domestic Violence Hotline (http://www.thehotline.org/) or call 1-800-799-7233.