Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia’s marriage was ‘volatile’ before domestic violence incident, pals reportedly say
Sources close to Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia are now speaking out in light of the “Dancing With the Stars” pro’s recent domestic violence arrest.
Friends of the couple reportedly said they weren’t completely surprised to see Garcia and Chigvintsev in this week’s news cycle as they were aware the marriage was “volatile” for some time.
Insiders told TMZ it was “shocking but not shocking” to learn the details of the arrest — including how Garcia allegedly threw shoes at her husband during the altercation.
The professional dancer, 42, was arrested on a felony corporal injury charge in Napa Valley, Calif. on Thursday morning.
Police said the victim asked for “total confidentiality,” but “an arrest was made at the scene” and “injuries were reportedly involved.”
Chigvintsev was released on Thursday afternoon on a $25,000 bail.
Just before his arrest, emergency first responders were called to Chigvintsev and Garcia’s home, but the request was canceled as paramedics and the fire department were on their way.
The arrest came just days after the pair celebrated their second wedding anniversary.
Garcia marked the occasion by posting the lyrics of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in the caption of her Instagram reel which revealed a video of the two with their 4-year-old son, Matteo.
“This song is our love story,” she captioned the Instagram video. “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.”
“That’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be,” the WWE Superstar concluded.
Chigvintsev and Garcia struck up a romantic relationship in early 2019 after meeting on Season 25 of “DWTS.” Chigvintsev proposed to her the following year.
In 2022, the duo got married in Paris.
Prior to their romance, Garcia was engaged to John Cena — but they broke up over the actor not wanting children.
