Artem Chigvintsev shares photos of injuries Nikki Garcia allegedly inflicted on him amid messy divorce
NAPA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: ‘Dancing With the Stars' pro Artem Chigvintsev accused his estranged wife Nikki Garcia (also known as Nikki Bella) of domestic abuse within a month after Garcia's filing to dissolve their two-year marriage.
The 'DWTS' alum, 42, claimed the former WWE wrestler, 40, was "the aggressor" in their latest altercation while providing images of his injuries, allegedly inflicted on him by Garcia.
Moreover, Chigvintsev was granted a restraining order against Garcia on Thursday, October 3, the same day she received a protective order against him, as reported by the New York Post.
Artem Chigvintsev shares images of 'injuries', claims Nikki Garcia faked domestic abuse allegations
According to Daily Mail, images that Artem Chigvintsev supplied to the Superior Court of California revealed bloody scratches and marks on his hands, elbow, and behind his ear, all of which he claimed were caused by Nikki Garcia.
Attorney Ilona Antonyan explained in a statement, "Mr Chigvintsev contacted law enforcement on 8/29/24 seeking protection from his wife’s persistent aggression."
"While he was on the phone with the police, Ms Garcia-Colace made a pointed statement, saying, 'Do you understand where this is going now, Artem? You just ruined my career, and you know it.'"
The 'Dancing With the Stars' alum also refuted claims of domestic abuse, as described by Garcia in a restraining order she was granted earlier this week.
In fresh court filings, obtained by TMZ on Thursday, Chigvintsev accused Garcia of making up allegations of domestic violence that resulted in his arrest on August 29.
He presented Garcia as the "aggressor" in their tumultuous relationship, alleging that a significant portion of their two-year marriage collapsed due to her anger management issues.
Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev granted restraining orders against each other
Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev have taken their ongoing dispute to the courts with two distinct requests for domestic violence restraining orders—one against him and one against her—filed on Thursday in Napa Valley, California.
According to documents acquired by PEOPLE, Garcia requested and was granted a protection order against Chigvintsev on Monday, September 30, while Chigvintsev requested his own restraining order against Garcia on Thursday, October 3.
The conflicting restraining orders were related to an August fight between the couple, which resulted in Chigvintsev's arrest on charges of domestic abuse. However, the former 'Dancing With the Stars' pro was not prosecuted.
According to court papers, both are expected in court on October 21 for a full hearing.
According to a statement Chigvintsev's attorney, Antonyan, provided to The Post, the 'DWTS' alum refuted Garcia's claims that he tackled her and maintained that "he was not the primary aggressor."
Antonyan stated, "It is crucial to consider the motivations of both parties in this situation."
What happened between Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia that led to his arrest?
Artem Chigvintsev claimed a fight broke out on August 29 in their Napa house that resulted in his arrest. He was preparing breakfast for their 4-year-old son Matteo when Garcia, anxious over a Netflix event, lost her cool and chastised Chigvintsev for not toasting the bread correctly.
He alleged that the dispute escalated after Garcia chided him for including chicken tenders and a quesadilla in Matteo's lunch. He further claimed that Garcia angrily scolded him in the living room for improperly putting on Matteo's shoes.
According to the pro dancer, Garcia became angrier when he stood up for himself, so she threw sneakers at him and struck him in the chest. Matteo stood terrified as she blurted out about getting a divorce. Chigvintsev added that he brought Matteo upstairs for his safety.
Chigvintsev claimed that while Matteo was sobbing next to him, Garcia followed him and Matteo into the bedroom and tried to break the door open while he was holding it tight.
He alleged that he pushed through a crack in the door to get outside and defend Matteo while Nikki stormed in and started hitting him, which resulted in a brawl on the ground.
Chigvintsev asserted that he got away and contacted 911 to let the operator know what was going on. He said that Garcia accused him of damaging her career during their dispute.
