Dancing With the Stars professional Artem Chigvintsev has addressed the impact of his domestic violence arrest from the previous year on his life. Although he was not formally charged, the experienced dancer indicates that the event has had enduring effects on him, influencing both his personal and professional spheres.

Artem Chigvintsev opens up about domestic violence arrest

Chigvintsev, 42, expressed his sentiments during a February 18 appearance on the Glamourous Grind podcast, as reported by Weekly. He stated, "It entirely destroyed everything for me. From every perspective, it completely devastated my life. The most distressing aspect was that the district attorney dismissed the case, clearly indicating that there were no charges that could be brought against me."

The Russian-born dancer, who has a 4-year-old son named Matteo with his former spouse Nikki Garcia, noted that despite the case being dismissed, he continues to endure public scrutiny.

"When individuals see that mugshot, they immediately perceive you as guilty," he articulated. "There is nothing you can say or do to alter their perception."

In legal documents, Chigvintsev previously asserted that the incident resulted in a loss of $100,000 in income. He underscored that the arrest overshadowed the actual circumstances of the case, remarking, "I believed that in this country, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty. That was not the reality at all."

The divorce and custody battle

A week following his arrest in August 2024, both Chigvintsev and Garcia initiated divorce proceedings. Garcia initially pursued full custody of their son, whereas Chigvintsev sought joint custody. The legal dispute also involved mutual restraining orders, which were ultimately rescinded when they reached a divorce settlement in November 2024.

Chigvintsev expressed that he opted for a settlement in order to progress with his life.

“I wanted it to be over,” he stated. “I needed to return to my life and move on—emotionally, financially—and I simply desired for my life to return to normal.”

The dancer acknowledged that he did not wish for the marriage to conclude and had hoped for a reconciliation.

“It’s a seven-year relationship,” he remarked. “I didn’t stop loving that person on that day and then decide to get a divorce. It wasn’t my choice to end the marriage. Until the very last moment, I was still thinking, ‘Perhaps we should consider therapy, maybe we should try to resolve this.’”

'Didn't see Matteo for weeks'

Although the arrest and divorce presented significant challenges, Chigvintsev expressed that the most distressing aspect was the prolonged separation from Matteo, lasting several weeks.

“I endured three-and-a-half weeks without seeing my son,” he reflected. “It is one thing to refrain from seeing your son by your own decision, but when you are unable to see him due to someone else's decision, and it is legally mandated, that is where the feeling of helplessness truly sets in.”

Garcia has consistently highlighted that her decisions have been driven by the best interests of her son.

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