After a messy yet brief two-month long legal battle, Nikki Garcia and her ex-husband, Artem Chigvintsev, have finally settled their divorce.
The news of their settlement was first confirmed by US Weekly magazine on November 20, 2024. While the exact details remain confidential, it has been revealed that both parties mutually agreed to the terms. A spokesperson of the former WWE star shared with the media outlet,
“Nikki and Artem have settled their divorce and will not be going to court. Nikki’s Number 1 priority has always been her son and privacy on the matter. She is thankful for all of the love and support she has received during this difficult time”.
Garcia’s representative further revealed some rare insights into her divorce. Speaking about the restraining order that Nikki received in October 2024 against her allegedly abusive ex-husband, the rep shared,
“Both parties decided to drop the domestic violence restraining orders against each other in an effort to move on with their lives and effectively co parent their son”.
Nikki And Artem’s Tumultuous Legal Battle Over Domestic Abuse
In late August 2024, just a few months before their divorce was finalized, Nikki alleged that Chigvintsev had been physically abusive toward her.
On September 30, 2024, while filing for a restraining order against him, Garcia recounted the horrific details of the abuse in court. This incident was what led to her decision to end the marriage. She shared,
“[Artem] tackled me multiple times and pinned me to the ground while our child was present… for what felt like 30 seconds… [I] felt like I was suffocating… and I grabbed at his neck in an attempt to get him off”.
On August 29, 2024, Artem was arrested on accusations of domestic violence against Nikki. He was detained for several hours before being released on bail. Later in September 2024, the domestic violence charges filed against him by his ex-wife were dropped.
Expressing his relief at being acquitted of the domestic battery case, he shared with E! News,
“I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped… This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed”.
Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev first met on the set of the show Dancing with the Stars in late 2017. They officially began dating in January 2019 and welcomed their son Matteo in 2020.
After more than three years of dating, Nikki and Artem tied the knot in August 2022. After two years of marriage, the couple has now divorced.
Fans Mock Nikki Garcia And Artem Chigvintsev’s Speedy Divorce
The online community sarcastically took aim at Nikki and Artem’s quick divorce finalization. Several netizens called it the fastest divorce in the industry. Some comments on social media read,
“That was the fastest divorce that I’ve ever seen. Don’t divorces usually takes months?”
“That was fast”.
“Wow that was quick. Good for Artem”.
Some fans expressed their relief and support for the dancer, writing,
While Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev’s relationship may have ended quickly, their focus remains on co-parenting their son and moving on with their lives.