Nikki Garcia’s life took a dramatic turn after her husband, Artem Chigvintsev, was arrested, but she remains focused on her 4-year-old son and has the unwavering support of her twin sister, Brie Garcia. Nikki, who built her career on her wrestling skills along with Brie as the Bella Twins, has recently been relying on a different type of strength. Just three days after celebrating their second wedding anniversary on August 26 with sweet Instagram posts, Artem was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in Napa, California. The case was dropped on September 24 after prosecutors decided not to press charges following a detailed review of the evidence.
Prior to this, Nikki, who met Artem during the 25th season of Dancing With the Stars in 2017, had already filed for divorce on September 11, citing irreconcilable differences and requesting full legal and physical custody of their son, Matteo. She also marked the date of separation as the day Artem was arrested. Artem countered with a request for joint custody, with both parties expressing a desire to keep the proceedings private.
While Nikki is currently taking a break from The Nikki & Brie Show podcast, she made a public appearance on September 2, hosting Netflix’s live “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef” hotdog-eating event with Rob Riggle. She expressed gratitude to the audience, despite her personal struggles. Since then, she’s kept a low profile, requesting privacy for her family. Recently, she was seen with Brie, shopping for Halloween, showcasing their close bond.
Brie mentioned in the September 23 podcast episode of The Nikki & Bella Show that Nikki is concentrating on moving forward and will return to the podcast soon, asking for continued privacy for her sister.
Despite Nikki’s silence on the decision not to charge Artem, Brie hinted at her feelings through a social media post, emphasizing that the truth will eventually surface.
Reflecting on her relationship, Nikki previously mentioned the complexities of merging parenthood with marriage and the unique challenges they faced by having a child before getting married.
Artem’s arrest occurred on the morning of August 29 and he was released on bail the same day, though details about the incident remain sparse due to requests for privacy from the alleged victim. Authorities made the arrest based on visible injuries or credible eyewitnesses.
As of now, Artem has not made a public statement regarding his arrest, and his participation in future Dancing With the Stars seasons remains uncertain, as he was not scheduled for the upcoming season.
Following the arrest and her subsequent divorce filing, Nikki’s rep asked for privacy on August 30, emphasizing the personal nature of the matter. The couple had just celebrated their second wedding anniversary before the incident.
Cheryl Burke, a former DWTS pro, expressed shock and shared support for all involved on her podcast, providing resources for those affected by domestic violence.
On September 24, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced that her office would not be filing charges against Artem after thorough consideration of the evidence. Artem expressed relief and gratitude for the dismissal of the charges and hopes for an equitable co-parenting arrangement for their son, Matteo.