2024-08-31 00:40:02
Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia recently celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary by sharing sweet tributes for each other.
The couple, who have a son together, first met when they were partnered up on “Dancing With the Stars.” Their relationship then blossomed outside of the ballroom.
In recent news, however, Chigvintsev was arrested on the morning of Aug. 29 in northern California, after a 911 call reporting domestic violence, spokesman Officer Henry Wofford told NBC News.
No additional information was available about who the alleged victim was.
In a statement to TODAY.com, a rep for Garcia, 40, said, “This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”
A rep for Chigvintsev, 42, has not responded to TODAY.com’s request for comment. The pair have yet to publicly comment on the arrest.
Chigvintsev’s last Instagram post before his arrest was photos from his and Garcia’s wedding day.
“Happy anniversary my love, can’t see my life with out you,” he wrote on Aug. 26. “You are my everything.”
Garcia — who performed under the name Nikki Bella until 2022 — also shared a video collage set to “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
In the caption, she wrote: “This song is our love story. I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God. How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on. And that’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be. 🙏🏼✨ Happy Anniversary @theartemc I love you!”
Here’s a look at Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia’s relationship timeline.
2017: Artem and Nikki meet on ‘Dancing With the Stars’
Chigvintsev and Garcia were partnered up on Season 25 of “Dancing With the Stars,” which premiered on Sept. 18, 2017.
The former WWE wrestler and the pro were eliminated on the seventh week of the competition.
March 2019: Artem and Nikki spark relationship rumors
Photos of the two circulated online that showed that they might be more than friends. By March 2019, Garcia shared a photo of her giving the dancer a kiss on the cheek.
Garcia teased that she would be sharing more about their status on her podcast.
“Well after that season finale 😳 First thing I’ll be talking about this Wednesday… oh and all those paparazzi photos (thanks for all the great shots 🙄 and smashing my food 🙄 lol),” she captioned the photo.
July 2019: Artem and Nikki confirm their romance
The Russian-born dancer and Garcia confirmed they were dating on a July episode of “The Bellas Podcast,” which she hosts with her twin sister, Brie Garcia.
“We’re boyfriend and girlfriend,” Garcia said at the time, with Chigvintsev adding, “We’re in a relationship.”
They further announced their relationship with a music video of them dancing to Rita Ora’s “Let Me Love You.”
“This song really hit me hard because I just felt like, OK, I’m falling for this guy really fast, but … I just kept trying to push Artem away because I just wasn’t ready for anything,” Garcia explained.
In the podcast, Chigvintsev also shared things he loved about Garcia, saying, “You’re strong, you’re powerful, you’re very independent, you have the career you’re so driven about. You’re just, like, an amazing human being.”
January 2020: Artem and Nikki announce their engagement
On Jan. 3, 2020, the couple revealed that they had gotten engaged in November 2019. At the time, Garcia shared a photo from their proposal, as well as a selfie of the two of them which showed off her ring.
“Excited for 2020 and the next decade with you @theartemc ❤️ I said yes in France in November!” Garcia wrote. “We have been trying to keep it a secret but really wanted to share our excitement for the New Year!”
The professional dancer also shared photos and added, “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. So excited for what’s to come I love you more than anything and thank you for saying Yes.”
January 2020: Nikki is pregnant
Nikki Garcia and her twin, Brie Garcia, announced in late January that they were both pregnant. This would be Nikki Garcia and Chigvintsev’s first child together, while it was her sister’s second with husband Daniel Bryan.
In her Instagram post, Nikki Garcia wrote how unexpected her pregnancy was, but how being a mom was something she’s always wanted to be.
“I can’t even begin to describe to all of you how happy I am! I’M GOING TO BE A MOM!! It’s something I have wanted to be my whole life. I was definitely shocked when I found out. And so nervous! I wasn’t expecting it and felt I wasn’t ready but this journey of life is unpredictable,” she wrote in part, later joking, “My baby is SO strong it’s crazy! (Mama felt it everyday first trimester lol) Can’t tell if it’s the wrestling genes or the ballroom!!”
July 2020: Artem and Nikki welcome their first child together
The couple’s first child together, a son named Matteo, was born on July 31, 2020.
Garcia shared the news with her Instagram followers, sharing a photo of the newborn’s tiny hand.
“7/31/2020 💙 Our baby boy is here and we couldn’t be HAPPIER and more in LOVE! Everyone is safe and healthy,” her caption read.
August 2022: Artem and Nikki get married
Chigvintsev and Garcia became husband and wife on Aug. 26, 2022. The newlyweds shared that they had tied the knot three days later when they announced it on their social media.
“We said I DO, can’t wait to share the entire journey with you all when our four-part special event, ‘Nikki Bella Says I Do,’ premieres on @eentertainment. #NikkiBellaSaysIDo,” they wrote at the time.
November 2023: Nikki says she’d consider having a second child
While on a “Spilling the E-Tea” segment, the Garcia twins interviewed each other and Nikki Garcia said she would consider having another child.
“(In a perfect world) I’d love for him to be an older brother. Right now, he has a twin brother and an older Birdie sister, so we’ll see,” Nikki Garcia told her sister, referring to Brie Garcia’s children. “I mean, who knows? I think he loves being an only child.”
She later added, “As of now, we might be sticking to one. We’ll see. I know (Chigvintsev) wants another one really bad, so we’ll see what happens.”
August 2024: Nikki signs Matteo up for dance class
Garcia revealed that she signed up her and Chigvintsev’s son for dance class after he expressed interest.
“He’s been showing so much interest,” she said in an episode of “The Nikki and Brie Show.” “Like, whatever daddy does, he’s like, ‘I want to go to daddy’s work and dance.'”
She also shared that her son will place his iPad where he can see it and dance. “He’s having his own little rave over there.”
On Aug. 24, she shared a video of her and Matteo “doing some dance cardio” before his dance class.
“He loves it so much! lol he cracks me up!” she captioned the video.
