Artem Chigvintsev admitted he’s struggling with finances after his arrest for domestic violence.
The 42 year old DWTS pro, who tied the knot with wrestler Nikki Bella in 2022, ended their two-year marriage following a heated argument on Aug. 29 that resulted in police intervention. He was arrested on charges of domestic violence, but he now asserts that these “false allegations” have caused him significant financial loss.
According to documents obtained by Daily Mail, he stated: “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. After the mugshot and the arrest based on her false allegations, I was taken off the website faculty list resulting in loss of over $100,000 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.”
The former Dancing with the Stars professional, who shares a four year old son Matteo with Nikki, alleged that his estranged wife is the “one with the temper” and maintained that he had “not been violent” with her.
He added: “She is the one with the temper. I try to stay quiet and avoid it. She yells, and [in August] was yelling, pursuing me, and was the one who attacked me. 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.”
Nikki has yet to publicly respond to her ex-husband’s remarks, but in September, she secured a restraining order against Artem after alleging that he “violently grabbed” her.
A representative for Nikki disclosed to Us Weekly: “Due to the incident that led to Artem’s arrest on August 29, 2024, Nikki has decided to file for a temporary Domestic Violence Restraining Order to protect herself and her son.”
Furthermore, they added, “Although Nikki requested that the Napa District Attorney not file charges against Artem as she did not want him to go to jail, he must still be held accountable for his actions, and Nikki and her son must be protected.”