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Artem Chigvintsev Reportedly Claims Arrest Caused Him to Lose $100K and Nikki Bella ‘Lied’ to Police
Artem Chigvintsev has reportedly claimed he lost $100,000 and believes his domestic violence arrest in August was the cause.
“It is not true that I have not been able to find other work as a dancer. I normally start jobs in November and it goes for 20 weekends,” Artem, 42, reportedly stated in court documents obtained by the Daily Mail on Tuesday, November 6. “After the mugshot and the arrest based on her false allegations, I was taken off the website faculty list resulting in loss of over $100K in income. I also lost the social media promotion revenue, which she continues to benefit from as she was more worried about her career when she lied to the police, than mine.”
On top of the revenue loss, the Dancing With the Stars pro doubled down on his claims that his estranged wife, Nikki Garcia (formerly known as Nikki Bella,) was the abuser in their volatile relationship.
“She is the one with the temper. I try to stay quiet and avoid it. She yells, and on August 29 was yelling, pursuing me, and was the one who attacked me,” Artem added. “It is further a lie that I was growing increasingly angry, snapping at her, and yelling. I was not violent with her and did not violently grab or yell at her.”
The Russia native continued, “We had an argument, but it’s not how she describes it. We agreed months before my surgery that she would be there with Matteo. I was supposed to fly to have my surgery on May 19. She forgot about it and booked herself for work in New York. She then told me that her work was more important than my medical procedure, so she ended up leaving. Our son was left with the nanny. I canceled my ticket and stayed behind. She then started sending me texts for different flights I could take, so I ended up going because she insisted I go. I have texts to prove this.”
Artem also alleged that he “couldn’t trust” Nikki, 40, “anymore” and alleged that the former WWE wrestler lied to the police about the events that occurred the day of his arrest.
“Not only did she lie to the police so that her career remains intact, ruining mine, but she used the court proceeding to keep our son away from me for almost a month, not letting me see him until this Court issued its 50/50 orders on August 15, which I am very grateful for,” the documents reportedly read. “Almost a month without Matteo was miserable for me, and I am sure for him as well, and selfish of Wife.”
Artem’s arrest on August 29 led to him being taken into custody in Napa Valley, California. He posted bail later that same day and was released. On September 11, Nikki filed for divorce and requested primary legal custody of her and Artem’s son, Matteo, without seeking to limit Artem’s visitation rights. Two days later, Artem responded with a filing of his own and asked that the former couple have joint custody of Matteo and that he receive spousal support from Nikki.
On September 24, Artem announced that the domestic violence charges against him had been dropped. Since then, both parties have filed restraining orders against one another amid their ongoing divorce.
Less than a month later on October 16, a judge granted Artem’s joint custody request after a two-hour hearing, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
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