Nikki Garcia (formerly Bella) has taken another bold step in her ongoing feud with her estranged husband Artem Chigvintsev, recently accusing him of serious abuse during a domestic violence case. In her statement to the court, Nikki described an incident where Artem allegedly molested her and threw her to the ground while their young son was present there. She claims that since Artem’s exit from Dancing with the Stars, he has become increasingly unstable, leading to explosive arguments, including over how to prepare their son’s breakfast.
Nikki Garcia granted restraining order against Artem
As reported by TMZ, on October 3, the former WWE star successfully filed and received a restraining order against former DWTS professional Artem Chigvintsev amid their ongoing divorce proceedings. This action followed an incident during their trip to Napa Valley, California, which ultimately led to Artem’s arrest, although he was later released on bail. Nikki claimed he molested her multiple times and threw her to the ground [their] The child was present,” according to the outlet.
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The couple has been married for almost two years, and they also have a 4-year-old son named Mateo. Initially, details surrounding the arrest were vague, particularly regarding who was the victim in the situation. However, Nikki was later seen without her wedding ring, causing her to go to a divorce attorney. Reports indicate that Garcia accused Artem of “being more angry, snarky.” [her] And have been screaming since their exit from “Dancing with the Stars.”
What happened between Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev?
A few days ago, the reality show star released a statement expressing gratitude for the support of her loved ones and relief that the truth has come out. He stressed his commitment to his son Mateo and his desire for equal custody arrangements with his estranged wife Nikki Garcia.
However, on the day of the incident, Nikki recalled the morning discussion about Artem’s struggle with anger control which had increased dramatically. According to TMZ, their argument erupted when Artem started yelling at Nikki over the way she toasted their 4-year-old son’s English muffins, accusing her of raising their child to be a “picky eater.”
Overwhelmed by his yelling, Nikki reacts by tossing Matteo’s child-sized shoes at Artem. She noted that although the shoes hit her foot lightly, they were too soft to do any harm. She also described how Artem carried his son upstairs shouting “Mummy…Mommy”.
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Nikki says she tried to go into Mateo’s room when he pushed her out too hard. He held her arms and pressed her down and kept her on the ground for some time. After going into Mateo’s room and closing the door, she tried to go back inside, but her husband pushed her into the couple’s bedroom and threw her to the floor in the bathroom. She alleges that he pressed her chest, making it difficult to breathe. In response, he grabbed her neck to try to free himself.
Garcia alleges Artem was ‘physically violent’
In her court declaration, Nikki said that the alleged physical violence by her estranged husband was not the first incident. She recalled a previous altercation in mid-2023 when he forcefully held her by the waist to prevent her from reaching their child. Additionally, Garcia described enduring verbal abuse and attacks. She stressed her desire to protect her child from growing up in an unfavorable environment, similar to her childhood experiences.
The judge has issued a restraining order against Artem, barring him from seeing or contacting his wife, their son, or their home. This order is in effect, except for visits ordered by the court for the exchange of one’s child.
A representative for Nikki informed TMZ how despite filing a restraining order to protect her son, she chose not to file charges regarding what happened that night. “Although Nikki requested that the Napa District Attorney not file charges against Artem because she did not want him to go to jail, he must still be held accountable for his actions, and Nikki and her son must be protected. “
“This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am grateful that the truth has prevailed. My focus has always been and will always be our son Matteo,” Artem previously told PEOPLE. Referring to his son, he said, “He is my world and being his father is the biggest blessing of my life.”
