“Dancing With the Stars” pro Artem Chigvintsev arrested on suspicion of domestic violence
The longtime pro dancer will not return for the 33rd season of "DWTS."
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Artem Chigvintsev of 'Dancing With the Stars' in October 2023Artem Chigvintsev has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence — and he won't be part of the next season of Dancing With the Stars.
The professional dancer was arrested around 10 a.m. in Napa County, Calif., according to public documents. Chigvintsev was booked on California penal code 273.5(a), which states that anyone who "willfully inflicts corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition" upon a current or former spouse, partner, cohabitant or fellow co-parent is guilty of a felony. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison and/or a $6,000 fine. Chigvintsev's bail is set at $25,000.
Entertainment Weekly has learned that there were never plans for Chigvintsev to take part in Dancing With the Stars' forthcoming 33rd season.
In 2022, Chigvintsev married former WWE star Nikki Garcia, whom he began dating when they were paired on DWTS in 2019. They share one four-year-old son. It is not clear if Garcia was involved in the incident.
Reps for Chigvintsev, Garcia, and the Napa County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's requests for comment. Garcia posted an Instagram story suggesting that she was also in Napa on Wednesday afternoon.
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Chigvintsev and Garcia both commemorated their second wedding anniversary in Instagram posts earlier this week. "Happy anniversary my love, can’t see my life with out you," Chigvintsev wrote on Monday. "You are my everything." Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Garcia posted the lyrics to "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" and 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. 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."
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Chigvintsev began his TV dancing career on the UK series Strictly Come Dancing during its eighth season in 2010, which he won alongside actress Kara Tointon. He appeared on three more seasons of that show before joining DWTS as a member of the Dance Troupe in its 18th season in 2014.
Related: The 15 best Dancing With the Stars winners, ranked
He was then promoted to dance pro in season 19, dancing with Lea Thompson, and returned for season 20, when he was paired with Patti LaBelle. Chigvintsev did not compete in season 21, but rejoined the show for its next six seasons, alongside partners like Garcia, Nancy Kerrigan, Mischa Barton, and Maureen McCormick. He did not return for season 28, but came back in season 29, winning the show for the first time alongside Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe in 2020. He later danced with Melora Hardin, Heidi D'Amelio, and Charity Lawson in subsequent seasons. He missed a week of season 32 last year due to COVID-19.
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