REPORT: Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia Had Volatile Marriage for Years Before His DV Arrest, Plus Artem’s Dance Partner Once Accused Him of ‘Kicking and Shoving’

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Many reality TV fans know Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia from Dancing with the Stars. However, it seems the two have had a troubled marriage for a while, which led to his recent arrest for domestic violence. Now, people who know the couple say they’re not surprised by the alleged abuse. Plus, the testimony of a former female colleague of Artem has resurfaced.

Fans will recall that Artem and Nikki met when they were paired together on Dancing with the Stars in 2019. They got married after, but it seems there has been trouble in paradise for a while. 

Of course, TMZ  broke the recent story of Artem being arrested for domestic violence against Nikki. However, it was actually he who first called the police over claims he was having a medical emergency after being assaulted by her.

According to reports, he tried to call off the police, but they came anyway. Now, people who claim to be close to the couple are telling the outlet that things have been “volatile” between them for a while. Because of this, no one is shocked by the recent arrest or his allegations against her.

Apparently, some people close to the situation have called the ordeal “Shocking but not shocking.” It’s important to note that Artem’s arrest was a felony arrest. 

The sources say people close to the couple had only been aware of verbal fights in the past and that no one was aware of any physical altercations until this incident. As for what the issues in their marriage were, the sources cite “control and belittlement.”

Meanwhile, Page Six is reporting that Fern Britton, who Artem worked with on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, has her own story about him. She said this to HuffPost UK in the past, “Artem] would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me.” She also remembers him being rude to her and saying, “You just stand there and don’t move; I dance round you.”

Fern also said that Artem issued threats to her. She recalls, “He was like, ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you.’”

She goes on, “I would say, ‘Oh please, just kill me, it would be easier.’ Or what was his other one? ‘If you go for a cup of tea now, I will blow off like an atomic bomb.’ I thought, ‘Well, I won’t correct him on that one.’”

However, she also shares that she thought they “did love each other for a moment or two” but that he wasn’t “charm personified.” For context, these comments from Fern were nine years ago. 

Artem denied Fern’s remarks in a statement to the Daily Express. He said, “I believe I treated Fern with respect and genuine care, and these claims about me are the opposite of everything I believe in and the person I am.” 

He continued, “I cannot imagine what has prompted such statements, which come as a shock to me.”

Artem will not be on the upcoming season of DWTS.