Brie Garcia Shares Update on Sister Nikki Garcia Amid Artem Chigvintsev Divorce
Nikki Garcia is feeling the love amid a difficult chapter.
As the former WWE star navigates her divorce from Artem Chigvintsev, her sister Brie Garcia is offering a helping hand. In fact, Brie made a solo appearance on the Sept. 23 episode of their Nikki & Brie podcast, during which she shared an update on her twin's journey.
"Nikki isn’t here because, as you all know, she’s going through something personal in her life," Brie began, "and she just asks for her privacy for her and her family, so we’re going to give that."
"But she sees all the support and love," she added, "and we’re always grateful for all of your love and support, so thank you all for that.”
According to Brie, Nikki will return to the podcast in a week or so. Until then, the Total Bellas alum is focused on moving forward with her and Artem's 4-year-old son Matteo.
In divorce documents submitted by Nikki on Sept. 11—two weeks after the Dancing With the Stars pro was arrested on a domestic violence charge—and obtained by TMZ ,she requested legal and physical custody of Matteo.
However, in Artem's response filing, obtained by Us Weekly Sept. 13, he asked for joint legal and physical custody of their son, while also seeking spousal support from Nikki.
Per the reports, Nikki, 40, and Artem, 42, are aligned on one specific detail: their official date of separation, Aug. 29, the day he was taken into custody by police.
As divorce proceedings continue, Artem is also getting support from loved ones, including his former DWTS costar Gleb Savchenko.
"He's part of the family," Gleb told E! News at the DWTS season 33 premiere Sept. 17. "He's such a great dancer that people don't realize. He's the quality. It's not about quantity, it's about the quality."
The choreographer added, "He's just my brother and I send him love and positivity."
Another DWTS family member, Cheryl Burke, also weighed in on Nikki and Artem.
“This is just a really unfortunate situation, and I just hope everybody's OK,” she told People in an interview published Sept. 20. “I hope that Nikki and Artem are protecting their heart, and I hope that, more importantly, their son is OK.”
“I hope that they take the time that they need to heal," Cheryl added, "even if that means putting your career on hold for a little bit."
For more details on Artem's arrest, keep reading...
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.
“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/.”
