Artem Chigvintsev files for restraining order after accusing Nikki Bella of abuse amid divorce

Artem Chigvintsev, a professional dancer known for his work on Dancing With the Stars, has filed for a restraining order against his estranged wife, Nikki "Bella" Garcia, accusing her of domestic abuse. This filing comes amid their ongoing divorce proceedings, and both parties have now accused each other of being the aggressor in incidents of domestic violence.

The restraining orders reveal a complex and troubling picture of their relationship, with each alleging harmful behavior by the other.

Artem Chigvintsev, 40, obtained a restraining order against Garcia on Thursday, according to Superior Court of California records. The filing included photographs of scratches on his elbow, behind his ear, and on his hands, which Chigvintsev claims were inflicted by Garcia during a recent domestic dispute. His attorney, Ilona Antonyan, stated,

"Mr. Chigvintsev contacted law enforcement on 8/29/24 seeking protection from his wife's persistent aggression." Antonyan added that during the incident, Garcia allegedly told Chigvintsev, "Do you understand where this is going now, Artem? You just ruined my career, and you know it."

Earlier on Thursday, Nikki Bella, 40, also filed for and was granted a restraining order against Artem Chigvintsev, claiming that he had become increasingly angry in recent months. In her filing, Bella accused her estranged husband of being verbally abusive, yelling at her, and escalating a domestic altercation on August 29.

According to her account, the dispute began after she threw their toddler's shoes at Chigvintsev, and he allegedly responded by tackling her.

---

Artem Chigvintsev denies allegations after arrest; Charges dropped due to insufficient evidence

Garcia's filing provides additional details about the incident, alleging that Artem Chigvintsev ran to a bedroom with their 4-year-old son Matteo and tackled her when she attempted to enter the room. She also claimed that their son told officers,

"Daddy hurt my hand." In response, Chigvintsev's attorney denied the allegations, stating, "[Chigvintsev] denies ever tackling her. He was shocked to learn two weeks after the incident that she made this allegation against him; at that point it made sense to him why he was arrested."

Artem Chigvintsev was arrested in Napa Valley following the August incident, but the domestic violence charges were ultimately dropped in September due to insufficient evidence. Chigvintsev expressed relief at the outcome, saying,

"I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped. This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed."

Garcia has further accused Artem Chigvintsev of a previous instance of physical violence in mid-2023, claiming he "violently grabbed [her] around [her] waist" to prevent her from being near their son. She also detailed instances of verbal abuse and asserted that she does not want their son to grow up in a tumultuous environment.

Bella was seeking full custody of Matteo and requested that the judge permit her to leave the country with her son to film a project in London. However, this request was denied until a full hearing, which is scheduled for October 21.

The judge prohibited Artem Chigvintsev from contacting Garcia or coming within 100 yards of her, their son, or their home, with exceptions made for visitation or child exchanges in compliance with court orders. Artem has not been living at the family home since August 29, and while Garcia sought a move-out order for Chigvintsev, the judge has yet to grant it.

Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev married in 2022 in Paris after meeting in 2017 on Dancing with the Stars. They began dating after Garcia ended her relationship with wrestler John Cena. Last month, Garcia filed for divorce after their two-year marriage deteriorated, citing their altercation in August as a critical factor.

Despite the contentious divorce, Artem Chigvintsev has been allowed to maintain contact with Matteo through supervised visits and Facetime calls.

Nikki Garcia's representatives stated to TMZ regarding the restraining order, stating,

"Due to the incident that led to Artem's arrest on August 29, 2024, Nikki has decided to file for a temporary Domestic Violence Restraining Order to protect herself and her son."

"Although Nikki requested that the Napa District Attorney not file charges against Artem as she did not want him to go to jail, he must still be held accountable for his actions, and Nikki and her son must be protected."

---

A full hearing on the restraining orders is scheduled for October 21, which may provide further clarity on the allegations and determine future custody arrangements.