‘Dancing With The Stars’ Pro Speaks Out After Domestic Violence Case Is Dropped

Dancer Artem Chigvintsev, who appeared on multiple seasons of “Dancing with the Stars,” said he is grateful for the people who stood by him in recent weeks, after Napa County prosecutors announced Tuesday that they will not file domestic violence charges against him.

Chigvintsev, 42, was arrested on Aug. 29 on suspicion of felony domestic violence. The alleged victim was not named at the time, but the arrest occurred the same day reportedly listed as Chigvintsev’s date of separation from his wife, Nikki Garcia, who filed for divorce a week later.

After a review of the criminal investigation and evaluation of the evidence, the Napa County District Attorney’s Office said they will not file formal charges against Chigvintsev.

“While we take every arrest seriously and stand firmly against domestic violence, we have an ethical obligation to only file charges when supported by the evidence,” Allison Haley, the county district attorney, said in the announcement.

The statement said the office’s Victim Services Division continues to work with survivors of domestic violence crimes and other crimes to provide resources, whether or not formal charges are filed.

Chigvintsev’s attorney, Ilona Antonyan, told People that her client was not the primary aggressor in the Aug. 29 incident, which she said took place while the couple’s 4-year-old son, Matteo, was present.

“He was protecting himself and Matteo,” Antonyan told People.

A representative for Garcia did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

Chigvintsev and Garcia met in 2017 when they were partners on Season 25 of “Dancing with the Stars.” Garcia, whose real name is Stephanie Nicole Chigvintsev, formerly wrestled professionally with her sister as the Bella Twins. She and Chigvintsev made their romantic relationship official in 2019 and got married in 2022.

Garcia, 40, filed for divorce earlier this month, days after her husband’s arrest, ABC News reported.

Chigvintsev posted a statement on his Instagram Story on Wednesday saying he is “incredibly relieved and grateful” that the charges were dropped, and that it has been an “extremely difficult time” for him.

“I am thankful that the truth has prevailed,” Chigvintsev wrote.

Antonyan told People that Chigvintsev and Garcia are negotiating a shared custody schedule, but that he has been spending almost every day with his son since his arrest.

“I am committed to continuing to provide him with the love, support, and care he needs as we move forward,” Chigvintsev wrote on Instagram. “I am hopeful that securing an equal custody arrangement will help us move on.”

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.