Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Artem Chigvintsev Pulls Curtain On ‘Unhealthy’ Marriage To Ex


Artem Chigvintsev is opening up in regards to the private {and professional} fallout following his high-profile break up from Nikki Garcia

The previous “Dancing With the Stars” professional described the fast collapse of his marriage and profession as a surreal expertise that pressured him right into a state of survival. 

Chigvintsev and Garcia tied the knot in 2022 and obtained divorced in 2024, after welcoming their son, Matteo.   

Artem Chigvintsev Displays On The ‘Unhealthy Dream’ That Led To Survival Mode

Chigvintsev was arrested in 2024 for alleged corporal damage to a partner and subsequently dropped from “Dancing with the Stars” after 9 seasons. Though he didn’t face home violence costs, the influence was speedy, main his spouse of two years, Garcia, to file for divorce only one month later. 

Talking on a latest episode of “The Penthouse With Peta” podcast, the dancer described the interval as a “unhealthy dream” that left him in survival mode, unable to totally course of the lack of each his profession and his marriage directly.

Regardless of the ache of the transition, Chigvintsev admitted to hosts Peta Murgatroyd and Sharna Burgess that the dramatic break up “wanted to occur” to finish what he characterised as an “unhealthy” marriage, per Leisure Weekly.

He confessed that due to his upbringing and his mother and father’ lengthy marriage, he probably would by no means have initiated the separation himself, preferring to work via points. He additional revealed he was prepared to “sacrifice” his personal happiness to maintain each mother and father current for his or her five-year-old son, Matteo.

What Nikki Garcia Mentioned About Her Marital Points With Artem Chigvintsev

David Edwards / MEGA

Chigvintsev’s statements came to visit a yr after Garcia shared her personal aspect of the story on why her marriage to the dancer got here to an finish. 

Throughout a podcast session in December 2024, Garcia mirrored on the emotional patterns that outlined her previous yr and certain contributed to the tip of her marriage. 

As reported by The Blast, the 42-year-old shared that she has frolicked researching the “divine female,” an idea that helped her notice she doesn’t have a accountability to repair, change, or enhance the individuals in her life.

She admitted that it took her over 4 a long time to know that whereas she will be able to supply assist, she can’t be the one to unravel another person’s deeply ingrained points. 

“We aren’t right here to repair different individuals, we simply aren’t,” she defined, emphasizing that her position is to steer by instance and nurture her youngsters relatively than making an attempt to restore her companion.

The “Whole Bellas” alum additional inspired her listeners to acknowledge these “fixing” patterns early and to set boundaries earlier than they result in emotional exhaustion. 

Nikki Garcia Beforehand Praised Her Co-Parenting Relationship With Artem Chigvintsev

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev kissing
Snorlax / MEGA

As Garcia and Chigvintsev appeared to simply accept the need of the tip of their marriage, the 2 have been additionally capable of finding a steadiness of their co-parenting relationship. 

In September, the 42-year-old tv persona revealed that she and her former husband have managed to construct a surprisingly sturdy co-parenting dynamic regardless of their dramatic divorce.

Garcia credited this newfound stability for permitting her to return to her skilled wrestling roots, per The Blast.

The previous “Whole Bellas” star brazenly appreciated how Chigvintsev tailored to her demanding skilled schedule. She shared that he has been “superb” at coordinating their time with four-year-old Matteo, even permitting her to have additional time with their son to accommodate her weekly journey. 

July 21, 2025, New York, New York, USA: JOHN CENA and SHAY SHARIATZADEH attends Netflix’s Blissful Gilmore 2 New York Premiere, Jazz at Lincoln Middle, NYC.July 21, 2025.Photograph by …Blissful Gilmore 2 New York Premiere, Jazz at Lincoln Middle, NYC.July 21, 2025.Photograph by. 21 Jul 2025 Pictured: July 21, 2025, New York, New York, USA: NIKKI GARCIA attends Netflixâ??s Blissful Gilmore 2 New York Premiere, Jazz at Lincoln Middle, NYC.July 21, 2025.Photograph by …Blissful Gilmore 2 New York Premiere, Jazz at Lincoln Middle, NYC.July 21, 2025.Photograph by. Photograph credit score: ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com [email protected] (Mega Company TagID: MEGA1341163_006.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]

Not lengthy after gushing about her nice co-parenting relationship with Chigvintsev, Garcia sparked courting rumors when she was noticed with Cooper DeJean. 

The 42-year-old WWE star shared a festive Instagram reel documenting her journey to an Eagles recreation, the place she was seen smiling broadly whereas posing in entrance of the 22-year-old athlete’s locker. The video additionally featured a second from a post-game celebration at a neighborhood bar, the place the pair have been noticed wanting cozy collectively. 

Garcia captioned the publish by expressing how “blessed” she feels for the brand new and outdated pals who make her life particular, particularly thanking the town of Philadelphia for its hospitality.

In line with The Blast, Garcia and DeJean comply with one another on social media and incessantly alternate likes and feedback on their respective posts. 

Nikki Garcia Denied The Romance Rumors

Nikki Garcia attends the 2023 ESPY Awards
MEGA

Regardless of the thrill surrounding Garcia and DeJean, the wrestler seemingly downplayed the romance rumors. On an episode of her podcast, “The Nikki & Brie Present,” Garcia confirmed that she hasn’t been intimate with anybody in a “actually very long time.” 

“It’s loopy as a result of I truly haven’t been touched or finished something in so lengthy,” Garcia informed her sister, Brie, per The Blast

She expressed frustration with the general public narrative, discovering it ironic that she has confronted harsh labels when she has truly been avoiding intimacy. 

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