Artem Chigvintsev, widely recognized for his captivating performances on Dancing with the Stars, faced an unexpected career shift after reportedly being cut from the show. This setback, according to his ex-fiancée Nikki Garcia, led him to explore work in construction, a stark contrast to the ballroom glitz he was accustomed to. News of this career transition surfaced amidst a period of significant personal upheaval for Chigvintsev, marked by a domestic dispute and subsequent legal actions.
The timeline of events reveals a challenging period for the Dancing with the Stars professional. On October 3rd, Garcia was granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Chigvintsev, shortly after initiating divorce proceedings. This legal action followed Chigvintsev’s arrest on August 29th in Napa, California, on accusations of corporal injury to a spouse. Although the District Attorney’s office later declined to press criminal charges, the arrest and restraining order painted a picture of turmoil in Chigvintsev’s personal life.
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Garcia’s court filing, reviewed by PEOPLE, detailed the sequence of events leading up to the domestic incident. She claimed that Chigvintsev’s dismissal from the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars a week prior to the incident had a significant impact. According to the filing, “He had not been able to find other work as a dancer” and consequently “had begun work at a construction job and felt it was beneath him.” Garcia further alleged that “Since being cut from Dancing with the Stars, Artem had been growing increasingly angry, snapping at me, and yelling,” indicating a potential link between his career setback and his emotional state.
Adding to the complexity, PEOPLE had confirmed on August 29th, prior to Chigvintsev’s arrest, that he was not slated to participate in season 33 of Dancing with the Stars. This confirmation underscores that his absence from the show was not a consequence of the domestic incident, but rather a separate professional setback.
Interestingly, this was not the first time Chigvintsev had faced being cut from Dancing with the Stars. In 2019, he publicly spoke about the disappointment of being excluded from season 28 during an appearance on Garcia’s podcast, The Bellas Podcast. He described the experience as a “massive shock” and a “punch in the stomach,” emphasizing his decade-long dedication to the show and the lifestyle it represented. “It’s like going through a breakup after 10 years,” he stated, highlighting the deep personal connection he felt with Dancing with the Stars.
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In the aftermath of Garcia’s restraining order request, Chigvintsev filed his own request, alleging that Garcia was the primary aggressor in the domestic incident. On October 4th, a judge granted protective orders to both parties, further complicating the already strained situation. The couple, parents to a 4-year-old son, Matteo, have been estranged since the dispute, with Garcia filing for divorce on September 11th, ending their two-year marriage.
Despite the arrest for corporal injury to a spouse, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced on September 24th that her office would not be filing criminal charges against Chigvintsev. However, both Chigvintsev and Garcia were scheduled to appear in court on October 21st for a full hearing regarding the restraining orders, leaving the future resolution of their personal and legal issues uncertain. The situation underscores a tumultuous period for Artem Chigvintsev, marked by career changes following his departure from Dancing with the Stars and significant personal challenges.
