Artem Chigvintsev has opened up about the tumultuous end of his marriage to Nikki Garcia, describing the period as a "bad dream" and stating the split was ultimately "inevitable."
In a rare interview on the Penthouse With Peta podcast, the Dancing With the Stars professional reflected on the 2024 incident that led to his arrest for domestic violence and the subsequent divorce filing. "I had to completely switch off me," Chigvintsev told host Peta Murgatroyd. "There was no way of processing everything. Looking back, I’m like, ‘Woah. I don’t know where I am right now.'"
Despite the chaos, the 43-year-old dancer believes the outcome was fated. "It was inevitable," he shared. "Everything happens for a reason. I feel like for me to end up where I needed to end up, that needed to happen." He added that he likely wouldn't have initiated the breakup himself, citing his upbringing: "I would have never done that just because I was raised differently."
The couple's separation unfolded rapidly after police were called to their Napa, California, home in August 2024 following a reported domestic dispute. Garcia filed for divorce less than a month later, alleging in court documents that Chigvintsev attacked her during an argument about breakfast—a claim he denied, countering that she was the aggressor. The Napa County District Attorney's Office ultimately declined to press charges against Chigvintsev. Their divorce was finalized in 2025.
Chigvintsev acknowledged that their 5-year-old son, Matteo, was a significant factor in why the relationship endured as long as it did. "Matteo played an enormous part," he said, while still expressing his belief that children need both parents present. "I want my kid to have a full family," he noted, observing that "nowadays people exit way too early" from relationships.
Today, the former couple has established a functional co-parenting dynamic. Garcia praised Chigvintsev's flexibility in a recent episode of The Nikki and Brie Show, saying, "I have to give it to Artem, who's been amazing on adapting to my schedule. I get Matteo almost more. He’s amazing." She added, "We've adapted well and Matteo's thriving."