Artem Chigvintsev is opening up in regards to the personal and skilled fallout following his high-profile split from Nikki Garcia.
The previous “Dancing With the Stars” pro described the rapid collapse of his marriage and profession as a surreal experience that forced him right into a state of survival.
Chigvintsev and Garcia tied the knot in 2022 and got divorced in 2024, after welcoming their son, Matteo.
Artem Chigvintsev Reflects On The ‘Bad Dream’ That Led To Survival Mode
Chigvintsev was arrested in 2024 for alleged corporal injury to a spouse and subsequently dropped from “Dancing with the Stars” after nine seasons. Although he didn’t face domestic violence charges, the impact was immediate, leading his wife of two years, Garcia, to file for divorce only one month later.
Speaking on a recent episode of “The Penthouse With Peta” podcast, the dancer described the period as a “bad dream” that left him in survival mode, unable to completely process the lack of each his profession and his marriage without delay.
Despite the pain of the transition, Chigvintsev admitted to hosts Peta Murgatroyd and Sharna Burgess that the dramatic split “needed to occur” to finish what he characterised as an “unhealthy” marriage, per Entertainment Weekly.
He confessed that due to his upbringing and his parents’ long marriage, he likely would never have initiated the separation himself, preferring to work through issues. He further revealed he was willing to “sacrifice” his own happiness to maintain each parents present for his or her five-year-old son, Matteo.
What Nikki Garcia Said About Her Marital Issues With Artem Chigvintsev
Chigvintsev’s statements got here over a 12 months after Garcia shared her own side of the story on why her marriage to the dancer got here to an end.
During a podcast session in December 2024, Garcia reflected on the emotional patterns that defined her past 12 months and sure contributed to the top of her marriage.
As reported by The Blast, the 42-year-old shared that she has hung out researching the “divine feminine,” an idea that helped her realize she doesn’t have a responsibility to repair, change, or improve the people in her life.
She admitted that it took her over 4 many years to know that while she will offer support, she can’t be the one to resolve another person’s deeply ingrained issues.
“We aren’t here to repair other people, we just aren’t,” she explained, emphasizing that her role is to guide by example and nurture her children fairly than attempting to repair her partner.
The “Total Bellas” alum further encouraged her listeners to acknowledge these “fixing” patterns early and to set boundaries before they result in emotional exhaustion.
Nikki Garcia Previously Praised Her Co-Parenting Relationship With Artem Chigvintsev
As Garcia and Chigvintsev looked as if it would accept the need of the top of their marriage, the 2 were also capable of discover a balance of their co-parenting relationship.
In September, the 42-year-old television personality revealed that she and her former husband have managed to construct a surprisingly strong co-parenting dynamic despite their dramatic divorce.
Garcia credited this newfound stability for allowing her to return to her skilled wrestling roots, per The Blast.
The previous “Total Bellas” star openly appreciated how Chigvintsev adapted to her demanding skilled schedule. She shared that he has been “amazing” at coordinating their time with four-year-old Matteo, even allowing her to have additional time with their son to accommodate her weekly travel.
Not long after gushing about her great co-parenting relationship with Chigvintsev, Garcia sparked dating rumors when she was spotted with Cooper DeJean.
The 42-year-old WWE star shared a festive Instagram reel documenting her trip to an Eagles game, where she was seen smiling broadly while posing in front of the 22-year-old athlete’s locker. The video also featured a moment from a post-game celebration at a neighborhood bar, where the pair were spotted looking cozy together.
Garcia captioned the post by expressing how “blessed” she feels for the brand new and old friends who make her life special, specifically thanking the town of Philadelphia for its hospitality.
In accordance with The Blast, Garcia and DeJean follow one another on social media and continuously exchange likes and comments on their respective posts.
Nikki Garcia Denied The Romance Rumors
Despite the excitement surrounding Garcia and DeJean, the wrestler seemingly downplayed the romance rumors. On an episode of her podcast, “The Nikki & Brie Show,” Garcia confirmed that she hasn’t been intimate with anyone in a “really very long time.”
“It’s crazy because I actually haven’t been touched or done anything in so long,” Garcia told her sister, Brie, per The Blast.
She expressed frustration with the general public narrative, finding it ironic that she has faced harsh labels when she has actually been avoiding intimacy.