TW: This article contains discussions of alleged domestic violence in which a child was present.
Dancing with the Stars alum Artem Chigvintsev has been all over the news lately. First, he was arrested for domestic violence on August 29, 2024. Although the victim’s identity has not been released, his wife, Nikki Garcia, was present at the time of the incident. Then several of his co-stars on DWTS have weighed in on Artem and his behavior, including Lea Thompson. And it doesn’t paint a flattering portrait at all.
Artem Chigvintsev’s former DWTS partner Lea Thompson speaks out
Lea, who partnered with Artem during Season 19, discussed her experience in the Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans podcast with Cheryl Burke. As a former DWTS pro, Cheryl knows all the tea. “It was hard working with him because it was his first year and it was a big deal to him. He was so intense,” Lea explained. “It was so much more important to him than to me, honestly. And so that made me really nervous, made me crazy after a while.”
The actress also explained that their creative visions differed. “It was also really, really hard for me because I was a ballet dancer and a modern dancer,” Lea said. “First day, he was like, ‘I’ve never taken any of that stuff, I’ve only taken ballroom.’ I was never allowed to say, ‘Can I try this?’ He would get so mad at me.”
She continued, “I remember once, he was really mad at me because I was counting crazy. He was like, ‘Why are you counting like that?’” Lea recalled. “I was like, ‘I’m sorry.’ I was like, ‘My mind works a different way.’” That must be hard to connect and work together in a competitive situation.
But one thing that Artem told Lea threw her for a loop. “I remember him telling me that men are much better than women. And I said, ‘Why?’” Lea remarked. “And he said, ‘Because they’re stronger.’ And I was like, ‘But they don’t have babies. I’ve had a baby,'” she added. WOW.
And one of Artem’s partners in 2012 on Strictly Come Dancing, TV presenter Fern Britton, discussed her experience with Artem. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t good. “[Artem] would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me,” Fern alleged. She also claimed that Artem would threaten her. Not cool.
Nikki filed for divorce from Artem
As for Artem and Nikki’s marriage? Nikki filed for divorce on September 11, 2024. The couple share a son, Matteo, who is four years old. Right now, Artem’s arrest for “felony corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant” is in the District Attorney’s hands. The office will review the case, and the D.A. will decide what charges, if any, will be filed against Artem. During this difficult time, Nikki has requested privacy, which is understandable. Sadly, all these stories seem to give a disturbing glimpse at Artem’s allegedly hot temper.
An Artem-free Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars premieres on September 17 at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or chat at thehotline.org.
TELL US – DOES THE FACT THAT SOME OF ARTEM’S DANCE PARTNERS CRITICIZED HIS TEMPER SURPRISE YOU? DO YOU THINK THAT MORE OF HIS PARTNERS WILL COME FORWARD?
