Artem Chigvintsev is weighing in on his mugshot circulating online following his domestic violence arrest.
“I was hoping I’m going to get a mugshot, like, what’s his name, Frank Sinatra, but that was not the case,” Chigvintsev, 42, said on the Tuesday, February 25, episode of the “Glamorous Grind” podcast.
Chigvintsev was arrested in August 2024 following an alleged incident with now-ex-wife Nikki Garcia. Us Weekly confirmed the following month that the charges against Chigvintsev were dropped by the Napa County District Attorney after an investigation.
“I mean it’s kind of funny but I was, like, this close to putting on my Instagram — [my] mugshot,” Chigvintsev said. “It’s probably gonna be very sarcastic to a lot of people, but I was like, ‘God, this thing made me more famous and more talked about than winning Dancing With the Stars, being nominated for an Emmy.’ That’s what made me more famous.”
Artem Chigvintsev Details How Domestic Violence Arrest ‘Ruined’ His Life
Chigvintsev claimed that “no one cares” that the case was dropped. “It’s just sad because people just want to see you fail and want to believe in things like bad things more than actually if you succeed at something. It’s just so sad.”
While Chigvintsev said that the people who know him are “still there” in his life, the former Dancing With the Stars pro said that because he was the one who was arrested, he was presumed to be “immediately guilty” by the public.
If there is one thing he wants the world to know, Chigvintsev said, “Be patient. Don’t jump to conclusions right away. If I [had] never been on Dancing With the Stars and that would happen to me, my name, nobody would care for.”
When asked if there are “burdens with being a celebrity,” Chigvintsev replied, “I don’t ever consider myself a celebrity and, to be fair, like, I think, this whole thing is completely blown out of proportion. Period.”
DWTS’ Artem Will Not Be Charged With Domestic Violence After Investigation
One week after Chigvintsev’s arrest, the professional dancer and Garcia, 41, filed for divorce. While she sought full custody over their 4-year-old son, Matteo, Chigvintsev requested joint custody. The pair both filed restraining orders against each other, which were dropped when Chigvintsev and Garcia reached a divorce settlement in November 2024.
Now, Chigvintsev is reflecting on his life — and the choices made. “I don’t think I would change anything that I’ve done, so it’s not that,” he said, before answering whether he has “no regrets,” replying, “No.”
If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
