I’ve been following the ongoing saga between former “Dancing With the Stars” pro Artem Chigvintsev and his estranged wife, WWE star Nikki Bella. In a new twist, Artem is now claiming that Nikki’s “false allegations” against him have cost him a staggering $100,000 in lost income.
An informant obtained court documents revealing that Artem Chigvintsev’s bank account suffered significantly following his arrest for alleged domestic violence against Nikki in late August. Artem claims that despite Nikki’s assertions that he wasn’t working, he was actually a busy working dancer, regularly picking up jobs that would last 20 weekends.
However, Artem claims that following his high-profile arrest, Nikki’s “false allegations” caused his mugshot to circulate in the media. He claims that this led to the removal of his mugshot from job listings, which resulted in a massive $100,000 loss of income.
“I also lost the social media promotion revenue, which [Nikki] continues to benefit from as she was more worried about her career when she lied to the police than mine,” Artem added in the documents.
As we previously reported, Artem Chigvintsev was arrested in late August for felony domestic violence after an ugly fight with Nikki in their Napa, California, home, with their 4-year-old son Matteo present. However, the Napa County District Attorney later decided not to file criminal charges, stating they couldn’t prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Now, Artem’s attorney, Ilona Antonyan, has filed these legal documents in response to Nikki’s accusations in her domestic violence restraining order. In the documents, Artem claims that Nikki is the “one with the temper” and insists he “was not violent” with her.
“She is the one with the temper.” I try to stay quiet and avoid it. She yells, and [in August] she was yelling, pursuing me, and was the one who attacked me,” Artem alleges. “It is further a lie that I was growing increasingly angry, snapping at her, and yelling. I was not violent with her and did not violently grab or yell at her.”
Meanwhile, Nikki has filed for divorce from Artem, and the former couple is currently battling in court over their assets and child custody. Nikki’s representative previously stated that “Nikki’s number one priority has always been the well-being of her son; she continues to ask for privacy for her and her family during this difficult time.”
This messy situation has certainly captured the attention of the entertainment world, with Artem and Nikki’s high-profile careers and relationship making headlines. It will be fascinating to see how this all plays out in the courts as the former partners navigate their split and custody battle.
One thing is clear: the allegations of domestic violence and the subsequent fallout have taken a major financial toll on Artem Chigvintsev. Artem Chigvintsev’s staggering claim of losing $100,000 in income underscores the serious consequences that can arise from such accusations, even in the absence of charges.
As this story continues to unfold, I’ll be sure to provide updates. Meanwhile, it serves as a sobering reminder of the value of due process and the harm false claims can cause to one’s career and personal life.