On September 13, 2024, the entertainment world was rocked by new developments in the divorce proceedings between Dancing With the Stars pro Artem Chigvintsev and former WWE star Nikki Garcia.
Court documents obtained exclusively reveal that Chigvintsev, 42, has responded to Garcia’s divorce filing. Citing irreconcilable differences, Chigvintsev listed August 29 as the date of separation – coinciding with his arrest for domestic violence in Napa Valley, California.
In a surprising twist, Chigvintsev is seeking joint legal and physical custody of their 4-year-old son, Matteo. This request stands in contrast to Garcia’s petition for sole custody. Additionally, Chigvintsev is asking for spousal support and for Garcia to cover his legal fees.
The filing also reveals the complex nature of their marriage. Chigvintsev claims putative spouse status from August 26, 2022, to January 19, 2023. This legal term refers to someone who believes they’re in a valid marriage when it’s invalid. The couple had a ceremony in France in August 2022, but the documents suggest they legally married in the United States the following January.
This response comes just two days after Garcia, 40, initiated divorce proceedings. The split became public knowledge shortly after Chigvintsev’s arrest on a felony domestic violence charge on August 29. A 911 dispatch recording revealed Chigvintsev accusing Garcia of throwing shoes at him during the incident.
The couple’s relationship began in 2019, following Garcia’s split from John Cena. They welcomed their son in July 2020 and had a televised wedding ceremony in 2022.
As this high-profile divorce unfolds, it highlights the complexities of celebrity marriages and the challenges that can arise when relationships in the public eye end.
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