Artem Chigvintsev was arrested and booked in Napa County Jail on Thursday on a felony domestic charge.
Details surrounding the shock arrest are not yet clear and his bail has been set at $25,000.
Artem, 42, is best known for being a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, before moving to the America version Dancing With The Stars, where he still appears as a pro.
He first met his wife Nikki Garcia when they were paired together on DWTS in 2017. They later tied the knot in August 2022 – and welcomed their son Matteo, three, a few years earlier in 2020.
His arrest happened only three days after celebrating his second wedding anniversary with Nikki.
As details of the arrest come to light, MailOnline takes a look at Artem’s early life, career and love life.
Artem Chigvintsev was arrested and booked in Napa County Jail on Thursday on a felony domestic charge
He first met his wife Nikki Garcia when they were paired together on DWTS in 2017. They later tied the knot in August 2022 – and welcomed their son Matteo, three, a few years earlier in 2020
Artem was born in Izhevsk, Russia and relocated to the United States in 2003, where he began dancing with champion ballroom dancer Giselle Peacock.
He appeared on the series So You Think You Can Dance in 2006 and went on to appear on the U.K. version of Strictly Come Dancing from 2010-2013.
In 2015, he denied ‘kicking and shoving’ Fern Britton during their time training together.
TV presenter Britton was paired with Chigvintsev for the 2012 series of the BBC1 series but later told The Times that he had ‘kicked’ and ‘shoved’ her during their rehearsals.
Artem hit back at Fern’s claims, telling the Daily Express: ‘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.
‘I cannot imagine what has prompted such statements which come as a shock to me.’
In 2014 Artem then left Strictly to work on Dancing with the Stars in the United States, on which he still appears as one of the professional dancers.
Artem has appeared on a total of 111 episodes of Dancing with the Stars from 2009-2023, garnering an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming for his work on the series in 2021.
Artem has appeared on a total of 111 episodes of Dancing with the Stars from 2009-2023, garnering an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming for his work on the series in 2021
In 2015, he denied ‘kicking and shoving’ Fern Britton during their time training together on Strictly Come Dancing
In a resurfaced interview from 2015, the presenter, 67, made these claims about her pro dance partner Artem Chigvintsev
In October 2020, he made a guest appearance on Keeping Up with the Kardashians to teach Kris Jenner and her boyfriend ballroom dancing.
He made another guest appearance on Paris in Love in January 2022, where he taught Paris Hilton and her former fiancé now husband some dance moves for their wedding reception.
In Artem’s personal life, he celebrated his second wedding anniversary with wife Nikki Garcia, 40 – who formerly wrestled in the WWE under the name Nikki Bella – three days ago.
The couple are parents to son Matteo, three.
The two initially crossed paths in 2017, when they were paired up on Dancing With the Stars’ 25th season.
Speculation that Nikki and Artem were dating sparked up in early 2019, and in January of that year, a source told People that the two have a ‘strong attraction.’
Only a few months after Garcia said she was only ‘having fun’ with dating, she went Instagram official with her relationship with Artem.
Later in July of that year, the pair stepped onto the red carpet together while attending the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards.
In November 2021, On The Bellas Podcast, Nikki revealed that both she and Artem had hit a ‘rocky’ stretch in their relationship, but were ‘stronger than ever.’
In August 2022, Nikki and Artem tied the knot during a romantic ceremony in Paris nearly three years after getting engaged.
Nikki confirmed that she was Artem’s girlfriend during an episode of The Bellas Podcast. ‘We’re boyfriend and girlfriend,’ she said, with the dancer adding that, ‘We’re in a relationship’; seen in 2023 in Phoenix
Nikki and Artem tied the knot during a romantic ceremony in Paris nearly three years after getting engaged. Garcia walked down the aisle alone and explained to Brides about the decision to do so
Artem has been in high-profile relationships with other celebrities, as he was wed to dancer Giselle Peacock, 43, between 2004 and 2005; and dated DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba, 56, between 2006 and 2008.
Garcia was previously engaged to WWE star/actor John Cena, 47, but the relationship ended in July of 2018.
Now, Artem has been arrested for domestic battery, DailyMail.com can confirm, and was booked into Napa County Jail on a felony domestic violence charge on Thursday morning.
His bail has been set at $25,000 and is currently still in custody.
Garcia – formerly Nikki Bella – was also in Napa at the time of the arrest, according to her social media.
The details surrounding what caused the arrest remain unknown but it comes just three days after he celebrated his two-year wedding anniversary with his wife.
Artem was arrested for domestic battery, DailyMail.com can confirm, and was booked into Napa County Jail on a felony domestic violence charge on Thursday morning
Nikki revealed on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday that she was in the area after sharing a post promoting her skin care business
Nikki revealed on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday that she was in the area after sharing a post promoting her skin care business.
In a post, she wrote: ‘Got a facial today! love my spot in downtown Napa,’ she said, along with a tag to the business.
DailyMail.com has contacted a representative for Artem for comment.
TMZ was first to report the news.
It was also reported that Chigvintsev was arrested on ‘accusations of corporal injury to spouse’ according to People.