Nikki Garcia Reveals Shocking Details About Split from Artem Chigvintsev
Former WWE star Nikki Garcia is speaking out for the first time about her separation from Dancing with the Stars pro Artem Chigvintsev, days after finalizing their divorce on Nov. 21. Returning to her podcast The Nikki & Brie Show on Dec. 2, Nikki, 41, reflected on the challenges of the past few months, including Chigvintsev’s Aug. 28 arrest on suspicion of corporal injury to spouse.
Nikki Reflects on the Painful Split
Opening the podcast, Nikki revealed how she has prioritized healing and protecting her 4-year-old son Matteo throughout the tumultuous period. “I disconnected from social media, from the world, and I just knew that I needed to disconnect because first things first, I’m a mom and my son’s protection and privacy is the most important,” she explained.
Describing the emotional toll, Nikki added, “I’ve been heartbroken. Sad. You know, you dream of having this family and you have this incredible love, and it just goes the other way. And you go from having a great love story to having a terrible one.”
Despite her pain, Nikki emphasized Matteo’s well-being, saying, “I tried to handle this whole situation even though I was in so much pain. I was just trying to do what was best for everyone.”
On Their Troubled Marriage
Nikki also addressed the cracks in her relationship with Chigvintsev, who she married in 2022. “When it came to our relationship, it’s sad. Like, it just hasn’t been great for a long time,” she admitted. She acknowledged that she had tried to paint a positive picture for the public, saying, “I really played it up [that] things were a lot better than what they were in the public eye, which I have regrets in that.”
“I didn’t wanna have another failed public relationship,” Nikki shared, before adding, “We should have probably walked away a long time ago. So in the end, what happened wouldn’t have happened.”
Nikki also expressed frustration over public misconceptions, saying, “People weren’t there that day. People don’t know what I’ve gone through… All I need to do is focus on my healing. I need to focus on Matteo’s healing.”
Protective Orders and Moving Forward
The couple’s split followed Chigvintsev’s arrest in August, though no criminal charges were filed. Both Nikki and Artem alleged the other was the aggressor in the incident and were granted mutual protective orders, which were dropped after their divorce settlement.
Chigvintsev previously shared his relief after charges were dismissed, saying, “I’m incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped” and adding that he’s “thankful that the truth has prevailed.”
Nikki closed her podcast by focusing on her and Matteo’s future. “It always comes back to him,” she said. “You fight for your kids.”
The settlement concludes a challenging chapter for the pair as Nikki navigates a new path forward with her son.
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Raissa Asunbo is a Content Editor at All About The Tea. She lives in Toronto, Canada and enjoys reading, watching movies, traveling and spending time with her family.