Brie Garcia Says Sister Nikki Is 'Going Through It' amid Artem Chigvintsev Divorce but Will Return to Their Podcast 'Soon'

Nikki filed for divorce from the former 'Dancing with the Stars' pro on Sept. 11, days after his Aug. 29 domestic violence arrest

Brie Garcia and Nikki Garcia visit SiriusXM at SiriusXM Studios
Brie Garcia and Nikki Garcia visit SiriusXM at SiriusXM Studios on September 07, 2023 in New York City. Photo:

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Brie Garcia is continuing to give fans a glimpse at her sister Nikki Garcia's life amid the personal turmoil she's endured over the last two months.

At the end of August, Nikki's husband Artem Chigvintsev was arrested on suspicion of corporal injury to spouse, and PEOPLE confirmed that the retired WWE star filed for divorce less than two weeks later.

Nikki, 40, has been largely off the grid since the Aug. 29 arrest, but her sister Brie has offered updates through their podcast, The Nikki & Brie Show.

On the Oct. 21 episode, Brie said of her twin, "You know, Nikki's going through it, but I'm her sister, and I feel like in this weird way, I'm going through a lot with her."

Brie spent the episode listening to voicemails left by fans of her and her sister, including one that reflected on a fan's own experience with abuse, which Brie connected to Nikki.

"You know, you're going through something really, really hard, and what I tell Nikki — this is the hardest thing you're gonna go through in your life right now," Brie said. "And just know, it does get easier, but you have to go to this hard place, and you have to find strength."

Brie Garcia and Nikki Garcia attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California.
Brie Garcia and Nikki Garcia attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California.

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Brie also thanked fans throughout the episode for the support they've been showing her sister.

"It's just so incredible the way all of you just have come and showed your support for Nikki. Like, I can't even tell you what it means to her," she said.

She added that she talks to her sister "20 times a day" but knows fans "haven't heard from Nikki in a really long time."

"Soon enough, Nikki will be back on the show. I know I always say soon, and I'm sure that drives a lot of you crazy, but I swear — soon."

Brie previously said on an Oct. 4 podcast episode that she'd "looked at trauma in the face" as she'd been supporting her sister amidst her divorce from Chigvintsev, 42.

"All you wanna do is help. You want it to stop, but you realize it's not your trauma, especially if you're not the one dealing with it and you're seeing someone else [deal with it]. It's not for you to fix," she said during the episode, before comparing the "sadness" she's felt to feelings that "death could compare" to.

Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella
Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella attend FOX's Teen Choice Awards 2019.

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Chigvintsev did not face criminal charges after his Aug. 29 arrest, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley confirmed in September after a "thorough review of the criminal investigation."

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He and Nikki have both been granted restraining orders against each other since the incident, as they both have claimed that the other was the aggressor.

Nikki was reportedly granted a restraining order against the former DWTS pro on Sept. 30, according to TMZ, while Chigvintsev requested his own protective order against her on Oct. 3 and it was granted by a judge the next day.

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