Simran Joshi
Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev, a high-profile couple once celebrated for their love story on *Dancing with the Stars*, are now embroiled in a legal battle, each accusing the other of domestic violence following an August 29 incident that led to Chigvintsev’s arrest. The pair, who share a 4-year-old son, Matteo, have filed for restraining orders against each other in the wake of their dispute, which has escalated into public court filings. With their marriage of two years on the brink of dissolution, both are due for a full hearing on October 21.
The Escalation of Tensions: Conflicting Accounts**
The August 29 incident culminated in mounting tensions between Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia. Both have offered sharply contrasting narratives about what transpired during the heated argument that started in their kitchen. Garcia claimed that Chigvintsev’s temper had worsened after his removal from *Dancing with the Stars*, leading him to snap over a trivial matter—how their son Matteo’s English muffin should be toasted. Chigvintsev, on the other hand, insisted that it was Garcia’s stress from work that led her to escalate the situation, accusing him of shirking parental duties, a claim he called “absolutely false.”
As their argument intensified, both admitted to losing their composure. Garcia threw Matteo’s shoes at Chigvintsev, an act she described as a momentary lapse in judgment due to her overwhelming emotions. Chigvintsev acknowledged the shoe-throwing but framed it as a sign of Garcia’s growing aggression. He tried to remove himself from the confrontation, taking Matteo upstairs in an effort to diffuse the situation. What followed was a more serious altercation that led to Chigvintsev’s arrest later that day.
Physical Confrontation and Aftermath
Upstairs, the situation became even more fraught. Chigvintsev claimed he was trying to protect Matteo, who he said looked frightened by his mother’s anger. Garcia, however, asserted that Chigvintsev tackled her outside Matteo’s room, pushing her into their bedroom and ultimately pinning her to the bathroom floor. In her account, Chigvintsev’s pressure on her chest caused her to feel like she was suffocating, forcing her to grab at his neck to free herself. She said that it was only when he saw the fear in her eyes that he “snapped out of it.”
Chigvintsev described the scene differently, asserting that Garcia forced her way into Matteo’s room, escalating the situation to physical violence. He said he called 911 after realizing the situation was beyond control. Both parties now have restraining orders against each other, with each claiming the other was the aggressor. Their legal battle is set to continue with a court hearing scheduled for October 21.
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