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Following Artem Chigvintsev's Arrest, Lea Thompson Reveals He Was 'Intense' On Dancing With The Stars: 'It Was Really, Really Hard'
By Heidi Venable,
1 days ago
Not much is known about what’s going on between Artem Chigvintsev and his wife Nikki Garcia (aka, the WWE’s Nikki Bella) nearly two weeks after he was arrested on domestic violence charges. After Chigvintsev’s friend and fellow Dancing with the Stars professional Cheryl Burke expressed “complete shock” over the turn of events, one of his former dance partners from the show opened up about her experience, calling the ballroom expert “intense.”
Actress Lea Thompson competed on Season 19 of DWTS with Artem Chigvintsev as her partner. The professional has now partaken in 12 seasons of the show, but that season 10 years ago with the Caroline in the City star was his first. Thompson spoke with Cheryl Burke on the Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans podcast about the experience, where the actress admitted Chigvintsev was difficult to work with. She said:
Lea Thompson said her background in ballet and modern dance didn’t translate to Artem Chigvintsev’s knowledge of ballroom, leading to trouble communicating. That caused frustration between the partners, as the Back to the Future actress recalled:
However, it wasn’t just her partner that made the experience so intense. It sounds like producers didn’t make Lea Thompson’s time there any easier, as she compared the show to The Hunger Games . Cheryl Burke agreed the footage they had shown of Thompson and Artem Chigvintsev during rehearsals was “one-sided,” with Thompson being shown telling her partner not to talk to her a certain way, but not showing what Chigvintsev had said to warrant that response.
Despite her experience with Artem Chigvintsev, she said his August 29 arrest was “surprising” to her. Lea Thompson did remember one “crazy” thing that her partner had said to her about men being stronger than women, but said she thought maybe his wife Nikki Bella had changed his mind after she saw them dance together on DWTS in Season 25. In Thompson’s words:
It’s obvious that Lea Thompson has complex feelings about her time on Dancing with the Stars , but she chalks up a lot of what happened between her and Artem Chigvintsev to his nerves, saying:
Artem Chigvintsev is not participating in Dancing with the Stars ’ 33rd season, but if you want to see other celebs and pros go through the intense competition, DWTS hits the 2024 TV schedule at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, September 17, on ABC and with a Disney+ subscription .
all y'all defending him goes to show what kind ppl.you are if anything he wouldn't be shit if it wasn't for nikki no one was watching dwts till she came on & no one knew him either. AND HIS. a homewrecker he's the reason John & her ain't work out she chose the wrong guy to have a family with. whether this ppl come out to say any he's ruined for life!
Stella Ebo
4h ago
let me point out something you idoit actresses with no more career that try to ruin people's name so you can be relevant that is you Lea Thompson.No good piece of cabbage .why do you want to destroy this guy's Artem Chigvintsev all together.Nobody knows you anymore .go away .ldiot
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