Dancing With the Stars pro Artem Chigvintsev has responded to Nikki Garcia‘s divorce filing.
Just two days after Nikki, 40, filed documents to end their marriage, requesting full custody of their 4-year-old son, Matteo, Artem cited irreconcilable differences as he asked for joint custody of the child — and spousal support from his estranged wife.
In court documents obtained by Us Weekly on September 13, Artem listed August 29 as their separation date, which is the same day that he was arrested for domestic violence in Napa Valley, California, where they own a home. In her filing, Nikki also listed the same date for their separation.
As fans have surely heard, Artem called 911, claiming that he was the victim of a domestic dispute and had been hit with shoes. Then, after he later canceled his request for medical assistance, police arrived at the scene and arrested him for corporal injury to a spouse after witnessing an injury to his victim.
In addition to requesting he be granted shared physical and legal custody with Nikki, Artem also wants to receive support from the WWE performer, and for her to pay his attorney’s fees and costs.
Also, in his court documents, Artem listed himself as a putative spouse from August 26, 2022, to January 19, 2023, meaning that he believes their marriage was invalid for a portion of the time. In fact, while he and Nikki got married in France in August 2022, his documents list their wedding date as January 2023.
Meanwhile, in Nikki’s court documents, she requested sole physical and legal custody of Matteo, with Artem being restricted to visitation rights. She additionally asked the court to terminate spousal support for each of them.
Following the filing, Nikki’s rep released a statement on her behalf.
“She continues to ask for privacy for her and her family at this time,” the rep told PEOPLE.
Artem and Nikki met during the 25th season of DWTS in 2017 and began dating one year later.
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