Artem Chigvintsev not returning as a ‘DWTS’ pro for Season 33 amid domestic violence arrest
By Caroline Blair,
2024-08-29
Artem Chigvintsev will not be returning as a pro on “Dancing With the Stars” for Season 33, Page Six can confirm.
“There were no plans for Artem to be a part of Season 33,” a source told us on Thursday.
The insider shared the information with us shortly after news broke that Chigvintsev, 42, was arrested for domestic violence in Napa Valley, Calif., around 10 a.m. local time on Thursday.
A rep for the Napa County Sheriff’s Office told TMZ that deputies responded to a domestic violence call in Yountville, Calif., and subsequently arrested the dancer on the scene.
The outlet reported that there were injuries and that the victim has asked for “total confidentiality.”
Chigvintsev’s bail was set for $25,000, according to online records seen by Page Six.
At this time, it’s unclear whether the dancer’s wife, Nikki Garcia, was present or involved in the alleged incident. However, she did post a Instagram Story of her in the wine region one day prior.
The full list of celebrities who will be competing on the new season – along with their pro partners – will be revealed Sept. 4 on “Good Morning America.”
ABC does not comment on casting rumors ahead of the official reveal.
Chigvintsev’s arrest came just a few days after he and his wife celebrated their second wedding anniversary on Monday.
Both Chigvintsev, 42, and Garcia, 40, posted sweet Instagram posts to celebrate the milestone.
“Happy anniversary my love , can’t see my life with out [sic] you You are my everything ❤️,” he captioned two photos from their wedding day.
Meanwhile, Garcia gushed over their “love story” while reflecting on “falling in love with him” and knowing it “was meant to be” when they began dating in early 2019.
Chigvintsev joined the show as a troupe member in 2014 before being promoted to a full-time pro later that year.
The Russian native competed as a pro for nine seasons. He was temporarily cut from the lineup in Season 28 in 2019, along with fellow dancer Sharna Burgess, which shocked viewers at the time.
“It’s weird. Dedicating something for the past 10 years, putting your absolute all [into it] … it’s not even a job, it’s a lifestyle if you’ve been doing it for a very long time,” Chigvintsev said on an episode of the “Bellas” podcast in August 2019.
Chigvintsev admitted that while “there’s always a chance” someone won’t return as a pro, he “never really” thought he’d be at risk for being cut.
“It’s like going through a breakup of 10 years –– and good memories of a breakup. The show really exposed me. Not just as a dancer, or a teacher, it’s also exposed me as a person who’d be able to find those talents in my partners … and get something out of it that they’d be so proud of. It’s like, you’re making other people’s lives so fulfilled; that’s what the show is all about,” he reflected.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
For more celebrity and entertainment news, visit pagesix.com.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0