Artem Chigvintsev, Longtime Dancing with the Stars Pro, Arrested on Accusations of Corporal Injury to Spouse

Chigvintsev received a felony charge of corporal injury to spouse on Aug. 29 in Napa Valley

DANCING WITH THE STARS - ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" stars Artem Chigvintsev.
Artem Chigvintsev. Photo:

Maarten de Boer/ABC/Getty

Artem Chigvintsev has been arrested on accusations of corporal injury to spouse in Napa, California.

The Dancing with the Stars pro, 42, was arrested just before 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29. He was then booked in the Napa County Jail less than an hour later and released later that day.

The booking code indicates Chigvintsev's charge was for corporal injury to spouse and he was given a $25,000 bail, according to intake records obtained by PEOPLE. It has not yet been confirmed but given the charge, Chigvinstev's wife Nikki Garcia (formerly Nikki Bella) is presumably the spouse in question.

A rep for Garcia tells PEOPLE, "This is a private matter and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time."

A rep for Chigvintsev has not responded to PEOPLE's request for comment.

TMZ was the first to report the news.

Just one day before the arrest, Garcia made an Instagram Stories post about a facial she got in Napa. She also posted a video of clips throughout her relationship with Chigvintsev for their anniversary on Aug. 27, featuring the lyrics to Elvis Presley's hit “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in the caption.

“This song is our love story. I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God,” she also wrote. “How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on. And that’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be. 🙏🏼✨.”

“Happy Anniversary @theartemc I love you! ❤️‍🔥,” she concluded.

Chigvintsev also posted, writing: “Happy anniversary my love, can’t see my life with out you. You are my everything ❤️”

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The Total Bellas alum and Chigvintsev first met in 2017 when they were paired together on DWTS. At the time, Garcia was still in a relationship with long-time boyfriend (and then-fiancé) John Cena but the pair split a year later. 

The retired WWE wrestler reconnected with Chigvintsev later that year before the two confirmed their romance in March 2019. Eight months later, they were engaged, and in July 2020, they welcomed their first child together.

"7/31/2020 💙 Our baby boy is here and we couldn't be HAPPIER and more in LOVE! Everyone is safe and healthy,” she said in an Instagram announcement. 

Chigvintsev also posted at the time, writing, "7/31/2020 please welcome our precious baby boy Chigvintsev 👶 proud of my love @thenikkibella."

Nikki Bella and Artem
Artem Chigvintsev (left) and Nikki Bella (right).

Rodin/Eckenroth

In November 2020, Garcia revealed that had begun couples counseling with Chigvintsev after the birth of their son.

"We hear a lot of stories of where there's sacrifice in their own relationship because it's about the kids," she said on the Tamron Hall Show. "Artem and I, from the beginning, want to know: How do we balance this for Matteo and for our relationship?"

Exactly one year later, Garcia shared an update on their relationship, saying they had overcome their rough patch. She explained on The Bellas Podcast that it was hard when both she and her son were apart from Chigvintsev for a long time while she was a judge on AGT: Extreme. 

"Teo goes everywhere with mama," she said. "That's where he's comfortable, that's where he does best. And, you know, it's been hard on [Artem], and it's been hard on me too not to have my man in my bed for over six, seven weeks."

Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella visit the DIRECTV SPACE at Neon Carnival presented by LEVI'S and TEQUILA DON JULIO on April 16, 2022 in Thermal, California
Nikki Bella (left) and Artem Chigvintsev (right). Greg Doherty/Getty

“It's been really hard on us,” she admitted, adding that things were "a little rocky for a bit," but the two have had "sexy FaceTimes" and were "stronger than ever."

In August 2022, the couple finally tied the knot in Paris, where they had gotten engaged years prior.  "We said I DO," they wrote in a joint Instagram post. 

Garcia also shared another photo on her Instagram Stories, writing, "We both can't stop smiling I never want this feeling to end. I will love you forever and ever Mr Chigvintsev."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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