In what can only be described as a plot twist no one saw coming, Dancing with the Stars veteran Artem Chigvintsev took a cha-cha into the Napa County Jail on Thursday (August 29), and unfortunately, this wasn’t for a live performance. Artem, known for his fancy footwork and spinning celebs around the dance floor, found himself booked on a felony domestic violence charge. And nope, this isn’t a weird DWTS challenge—this is real life.
Now, Artem’s better half is none other than WWE legend and one half of the Bella twins, Nikki Garcia. You know, because when you’re a professional dancer, you should probably marry a pro wrestler. It’s only fair. But here’s the kicker: no one knows if Nikki had anything to do with the incident, and she’s been as silent as a referee in an empty wrestling ring. Mums the word, but trust me, we’re all refreshing Instagram like it’s our full-time job waiting for a statement.
The 42-year-old (yes, time flies when you’re twirling around in sparkly outfits) reportedly got himself tangoed up with the law, and TMZ was the first to spill the tea. They claim it’s all public record, because of course it is—nothing says “private life” like your personal drama on a public website! Oh, and did I mention that Nikki was allegedly in Napa too? It’s like the plot of a reality show we didn’t ask for but can’t stop watching. They’ve even got a house there! Details, however, are about as scarce as Artem’s shirt on any given dance routine.
The couple has a 4-year-old son, Matteo, who, let’s be honest, is probably more interested in building LEGO forts than whatever is going down in Napa. Just two days before this whole debacle, Nikki posted a gushy anniversary message on Instagram with all the classic ingredients: hearts, fire emojis, and professions of undying love. Sigh Nothing says “romance” like a spontaneous trip to jail, right?
Oh, and speaking of DWTS, Variety confirmed that Artem isn’t returning to the show this season. Yup, looks like he’s been benched again. Maybe his moves are just too hot to handle, or maybe, just maybe, they were worried his jailhouse rock might overshadow the tango. Either way, it looks like his dance card is full—just not in the way he expected.
Stay tuned, because this saga might just end with a cha-cha behind bars.
