Lea Thompson has reflected on her DWTS partnership with ‘intense’ Artem Chigvintsev amid his arrest for domestic battery.
The 42-year-old professional dancer was recently released on bail following his August 29 arrest in Napa County, California for domestic violence – with the star said to be fighting to save his relationship with wife Nikki Garcia, 40.
Thompson, 63, was partnered with Chigvintsev during season 19 of the ABC reality series in 2014 – placing in sixth.
The actress said she had struggled with the dancer’s tough training methods as he sought to impress during his first year on the show.
She told the Monday, September 9 episode of the Sex, Lies and Spray Tans podcast: ‘It was hard working with him because it was his first year and it was a big deal to him. He was so intense. It was so much more important to him than to me, honestly. And so that made me really nervous, made me crazy after a while.’
Lea Thompson has reflected on her DWTS partnership with ‘intense’ Artem Chigvintsev amid his arrest for domestic battery – pictured 2014
His arrest — which reportedly happened after Nikki threw shoes at him — came days after he and Nikki celebrated their second wedding anniversary; they are seen in 2017
Speaking to host and former DWTS professional Cheryl Burke, she added: ‘It was also really really hard for me because I was a ballet dancer and a modern dancer. First day, he was like, ‘I’ve never taken any of that stuff, I’ve only taken ballroom,’”
‘All this stuff that I knew, he knew none of that. I was never allowed to say, ‘Can I try this?’ He would get so mad at me.’
She branded Chigvintsev ‘so implacable’, saying: ‘That was hard because you’re supposed to also kind of love them.
‘I remember once, he was really mad at me because I was counting crazy,” Thompson said. He was like, “Why are you counting like that?” I was like, “I’m sorry.” I was like, “My mind works a different way.”
She also claimed Chigvintsev had told her ‘men are much better than women.’
She added: ‘And I said, “Why?” And he said, “Because they’re stronger”. And I was like, “But they don’t have babies. I’ve had a baby.’
Thompson said Chigvintsev has unfollowed her on social media – but said she was ‘surprised’ to hear about his arrest as he ‘has a cat.’
She also praised Nikki and Chigvintsev’s partnership on the show in 2017 – a year before they began dating.
Thompson, 63, was partnered with Chigvintsev during season 19 of the ABC reality series in 2014 – placing in sixth. The actress said she had struggled with the dancer’s tough training methods as he sought to impress during his first year on the show.
She said: ‘He was so intense. It was so much more important to him than to me, honestly. And so that made me really nervous, made me crazy after a while’
She said: ‘I saw when they were doing their dance that she flipped him over and threw him on the ground. I was like, “Go!” You know, she did a wrestling move. You’re letting her show that she’s as strong as you. So I thought that was kinda cool.’
Thompson alleged that Chigvintsev has unfollowed her on social media. Despite their differences, Thompson said she was “surprised” by Chigvintsev’s recent arrest. “He has a cat, what can I say!” Thompson said. “Or, he had a cat. … I don’t know what happened.”
Artem and Nikki are still both following each other on the social media platform.
It comes following news that the dancer is desperately trying to salvage his marriage with Nikki – but she believes ‘divorce is the only option.’
Cops were called to the couple’s $1.5 million marital home in Yountville, California, following reports of a bust-up.
Sources said the couple dialed 911 twice – first to request assistance for an injury before calling back and asking paramedics not to come.
But due to the sounds of a domestic disturbance in the background, cops from the Napa Sheriff’s Department descended on the couple’s leafy neighborhood anyway, taking Russian-born Chigvintsev with them.
He was booked into the Napa County Jail on felony domestic violence charges at 10:59 am before being released on a $25,000 bond at approximately 2.18am.
A mugshot released by the Napa County Sheriff’s office showed the ballroom star looking glum-faced in a check shirt while sporting a grizzled beard.
The arrest, which reportedly came after Garcia threw shoes at her husband, took place less than four days after the pair celebrated the anniversary of their August 2022 wedding – with both marking the moment on social media.
And now Artem is said to be hellbent on proving to wife Nikki that he ‘can be a changed man.’
While she has allegedly banned Artem from seeing their four-year-old son Matteo without supervision and is searching for a divorce lawyer, sources have revealed to DailyMail.com that he is in the ‘fight of his life’ to win her back – especially now that he has been dropped from the upcoming season of DWTS.
Artem is pictured in his mugshot after his shock arrest
Artem and Nikki are still both following each other on the social media platform; seen in 2019
It comes following news that the dancer is desperately trying to salvage his marriage with Nikki – but she believes ‘divorce is the only option’; seen in 2019
Insiders told DailyMail.com that Artem has to be supervised ‘if and when’ he wants to see his young son Matteo, four
‘Artem is very frustrated and mad that he wasn’t asked to be on this season of Dancing with the Stars, and now it looks like he will never be back,’ they said.
‘His life professionally and personally is and has been flipped upside down.’
‘He doesn’t know what his next steps are with Nikki, he has been upset for a long time and now he is in the fight of his life to clear his name and win back Nikki, but as of right now he hasn’t decided what he might do to show her that he can be a changed man.’
‘They currently have limited dialogue with each other.’
‘If and when he sees Matteo, Nikki wants it supervised. Her trust has been thrown out the door and she is very angry with Artem, he has an uphill battle ahead of him. The whole thing is a mess.’
‘She has tried and tried to make it work, but she feels divorce is the only option. It hurts but Nikki is such a strong woman, and she is doing what is right for her, and for Matteo.’
Although Artem is desperately trying to repair his marriage, Nikki’s twin Brie Garcia is said to want her sister to leave him for good.
Sources said Chigvintsev is currently scheduled to face court in Napa on Tuesday over the incident and cannot leave Napa County until the case is resolved
Earlier this week, an insider close to former WWE star Brie, 40, said she is ‘disgusted’ by the news of Artem’s arrest, and wants her twin to have nothing to do with him.
‘Nikki’s sister Brie is disgusted, shocked, disappointed and just sad that this happened,’ they told DailyMail.com.
‘She loves Artem, and for this to be going down is so out of the realm of possibility of the person who she knows. Brie is very concerned about it all and is there for her sister at all costs.’
The added: ‘Brie, who is obviously the closest to Nikki, as anyone would, is telling her to leave Artem, if this is as bad as it seems, and if it happened before, once she finds out everything that happened, she will be the first to tell Nikki to leave him.’
Nikki and Artem’s two-year marriage was reportedly plagued by arguments, but his violent outburst has shocked the WWE star and her family.
‘One thing Nikki never showed was the verbal troubles that she had with Artem,’ the source continued. ‘They wouldn’t treat each other very nice and they never built on a friendship.’
‘Their sole focus has been on their son and not on each other. That caused arguments, but as far as everyone knows it never got physical.’
‘Family and friends are very surprised things got physical, but they’re not exactly surprised that they were having trouble, it just seemed like normal relationship issues to outsiders.’
Nikki’s twin Brie Garcia (pictured) is said to want her sister to leave Artem for good
Last weekend, Nikki was seen boarding a JSX flight to Sin City at Oakland airport without her wedding ring. She was accompanied by her son and an assistant.
TMZ claimed that Nikki began the hunt for an attorney the day after Artem had allegedly attacked her.
The publication alleged that she has been making calls since Friday and has the intention of ending her marriage.
Artem and Nikki initially crossed paths in 2017 when they were paired up on the 25th season of Dancing with the Stars.
Artem had previously been in high-profile relationships with other celebrities, including dancer Giselle Peacock, 43, between 2004 and 2005. He also dated DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba, 56, between 2006 and 2008.
