Cheryl Burke Weighs in on 'DWTS' Artem Chigvintsev’s’ Domestic Violence Arrest

Cheryl Burke shared her initial reaction to fellow Dancing with the Stars dancer Artem Chigvintsev’s arrest amid suspicion of domestic violence in an episode of her podcast released just hours after the arrest occurred.

Burke, who has been a professional dancer on the celebrity competition show for many seasons since its launch in 2005, explained during a Thursday, Aug. 29, recording of Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans that her history with Chigvintsev, 42, began long before they appeared together on television.

“I hesitate to smile right now because of the current news, the headlines that have been rolling out, which I’m in complete shock about,” Burke, 40, said as she introduced the start of Thursday’s podcast. “Someone who I’ve grown up with, who actually, we used to live together in my family’s home in the Bay Area.”

The Dance Moms alum then admitted felt “kind of emotional” thinking about the accusations Chigvintsev is now facing. “He was arrested today, Thursday, was when we’re recording this. And domestic violence has been thrown in the mix.”

Officials with the Napa County Sheriff’s Office said Chigvintsev was arrested Thursday when deputies responded to a domestic violence call. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told the Associated Press that there were signs indicating abuse, which led to Chigvintsev’s arrest. Details regarding what those signs were and the identity of the alleged victim were not released by authorities.

Chigvintsev was charged with felony domestic violence and was taken to Napa County Jail, where he was released later that day on $25,000 bail.

Chigvintsev’s wife, fellow Dancing with the Stars competitor Nikki Bella , has since spoken briefly about the “private matter” as she requested “privacy for her and her family at this time” in a statement obtained by Variety . Bella and Chigvintsev, who competed together on the show, have been married since August 2022 and share a 4-year-old son.

On her podcast, Burke said her “heart goes out to everyone involved.”

“It’s just really hard for me because he’s my family. And I don’t know what to say here, other than I hope everybody’s OK,” she said, adding later that “domestic violence is serious” and reiterating that the news “is kind of shocking, still, for me.”

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