Nikki Garcia is sharing an encouraging message with fans following her messy split from Artem Chigvintsev.
“I just want you to know that you are so much stronger than you think,” Garcia, 41, said on the Sunday, December 15, episode of “The Nikki & Brie Show” podcast. “And also, you know, in our strongest moments, we definitely have, then, super weak moments. And we just have to figure out how we get through that — what do we do? And who do we need to lean on? What do we need to bring into our life and surround ourselves with, and what can feed our soul and make us strong? And I’ve dedicated myself to that the past few months, and it truly helps”
Garcia noted that she hasn’t had “a day without tears” since settling her divorce from Chigvintsev, 42, last month. “I just know that situations like this, divorce, whatever it may be, it takes a piece of you. It takes a piece of your heart that will never grow back or never be replaced, but it’s, ‘How do we make that piece of you that’s gone strong?’”
Garcia and Chigvintsev began dating in 2019 after competing together on season 25 of Dancing With the Stars in 2017. The pair welcomed their son, Matteo, in 2020 and went on to tie the knot in 2022.
Nikki Garcia Breaks Her Silence on ‘Tough’ Artem Chigvintsev Divorce
Shortly after celebrating their second wedding anniversary in August, Chigvintsev was arrested for domestic battery following an incident involving Garcia and their son. Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced in September that Chigvintsev would not be charged with domestic violence following a “thorough” investigation into the incident. (Chigvintsev’s lawyer also alleged that he was not the “primary aggressor” in the incident.)
Us Weekly confirmed in September that Garcia filed for divorce from Chigvintsev, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split and listing their date of separation as August 29. In response to the filing, Chigvintsev requested joint custody of Matteo and spousal support in court docs exclusively obtained by Us.
The exes each filed restraining orders against each other in October, accusing the other of causing physical altercations during their marriage. The restraining orders were dropped when the two finalized their divorce last month.
On Sunday’s podcast, Garcia noted that “things will get better” while listening to voicemails from fans sharing their similar divorce experiences. “What I’ve realized going through this is, like, support and love is everything,” she said. “And from family, from friends, and then from people that you just know through podcasting, social media or on the streets, and it means a lot.”
Garcia went on to share that her and Chigvintsev’s split has made her reflect on her “entire life,” explaining: “I’ve had bad things happen to me. So, it made me really sit and be like, ‘Why have all these things happened to me?’”
Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev’s Relationship Timeline
From her hardships, Garcia has learned that everything happens for a reason. “I feel like, ‘OK, God put this on my path for a reason. So, what am I supposed to learn here? What tool from life am I supposed to take here, to conquer this and overcome it and make my path brighter and better? And then I’m able to share this with others and bring them here too,’” she stated. “That’s what I have learned is no more dwelling, no more this. Take the pain and go through it and know that that’s OK. Like, it’s OK to be sad and it’s OK to be angry and it’s OK to be all these emotions.”
Now she’s focused on using her experience to help others. “I feel like things happen to us because we are supposed to help others in that way,” she told listeners. “And I can’t, you know, believe the amount of women that have come to me. And it’s been pretty amazing to sit and have some incredible conversations with people and, you know, just not feel alone.”
