Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella’s marriage was reportedly troubled for years before his arrest for alleged domestic violence. The “Dancing With the Stars” pro was booked on Thursday, August 29, on a charge of felony domestic violence in Napa, California, where he lives with his wife, Nikki Bella (aka Nikki Garcia), and their four-year-old son, Matteo. Chigvintsev and Bella’s relationship has been “volatile” for a long time, according to the couple’s friends and former “DWTS” cast and crew members who spoke to TMZ .
“Artem and Nikki’s marriage has been troubled for some time,” the outlet claims, citing anonymous sources who say the alleged strain in the relationship was evident to anyone in their circle. The couple’s friends reportedly described their reaction to Chigvintsev’s arrest as “shocking but not shocking.” Sources also told TMZ that they knew the pair had a history of verbal altercations but were unaware of any physical fights between the two before the alleged incident on Thursday that led to Chigvintsev’s arrest.
Past alleged arguments reportedly centered around “control and belittlement.” Bella has previously said that she and Chigvintsev went to couples’ therapy because she didn’t like how her husband spoke to her at times. Chigvintsev is reportedly not living in the couple’s marital home following his arrest, and their son is staying with Bella, per TMZ.
Chigvintsev and Bella met when she was a contestant on “DWTS�.