Artem Chigvintsev Opens Up About the Life-Altering Impact of His Domestic Violence Arrest
Artem Chigvintsev, the professional dancer and Dancing with the Stars star, shared the emotional aftermath of his arrest for domestic violence, which he says “completely ruined” his life—even though no criminal charges were ever filed against him. In a candid conversation on the Glamorous Grind podcast, Artem opened up about the personal and professional fallout from the incident.
No Charges Filed, But Life Changed Forever
Back in September, the Napa County District Attorney’s office decided not to charge Artem, finding no evidence to support criminal accusations. However, despite the case being dismissed, Artem says the damage was already done.
“The DA couldn’t charge me, but the damage to my reputation and life had already taken its toll,” Artem explained on the podcast. “It was completely unfair.”
A Huge Financial Setback
The emotional impact wasn’t the only consequence. Artem revealed that the arrest cost him significantly financially, losing over $100,000 in income after several dancing gigs were canceled due to the arrest.
Artem and Nikki Bella Move Forward After Divorce
Artem’s arrest came just months before his divorce from Total Bellas star Nikki Bella. The couple, who met as partners on Dancing with the Stars in 2017, finalized their divorce in November after going through mediation. Nikki had filed for divorce in August following the domestic violence arrest, marking a difficult chapter in both of their lives.
When asked why he didn’t take the case to trial to clear his name, Artem explained that he simply wanted to move on, emotionally and financially, from the situation. He emphasized that his goal was to get back to living his life without dragging the emotional toll of the incident any further.
Moving On and Looking Ahead
Now, both Artem and Nikki have seemingly moved past this turbulent period. While the road to recovery wasn’t easy for Artem, he’s focusing on rebuilding his career and personal life, leaving the painful chapter behind.
