Artem Chigvintsev Wants To Spin On ‘DWTS’ Ball Room Again

The Russian professional dancer appeared on the show’s set earlier this week but hopes to make his return permanent. His attorney, Ilona Antonyan, recently shared his dreams of a ballroom comeback.

Although Artem Chigvintsev rose to fame for his appearances on competitive dance shows like “DWTS,” his image allegedly went downhill amid his divorce from Nikki Garcia. He accused his estranged wife of negatively impacting his income.

Days after he visited the dance show’s set for a special event, Chigvintsev’s lawyer revealed his appearance might be the first step towards a comeback.

Antonyan noted “DWTS” producers had not contacted Chigvintsev for a possible appearance in the show’s next season. However, the dancer was open to returning to the competition if they wanted him.

The lawyer implied that Chigvintsev’s return wasn’t farfetched because he remained on excellent terms with the show’s producers. Things were so good between them that one of the executive producers for “DWTS” personally invited the dancer to their 500th episode event.

Antonyan told TMZ that dancing would always be a part of Chigvintsev’s life, and he hoped to embrace his passion for a long time. While his dancing days took a significant hit during his divorce, the ballroom expert tried his hands at construction work.

The dance show celebrated its 500th episode on Tuesday, November 12, in Los Angeles. The Blast shared that Chigvintsev made a surprise appearance in the studio audience, looking dashing for a man going through a tumultuous divorce.

The dancer brushed off his nasty case with Garcia, smiling happily without a worry in sight. His former colleagues, Peta Murgatroyd and her husband, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, were by his side.

The trio were captured bonding in a video shared on the Chmerkovskiy’s Instagram Story. Chigvintsev’s happiness was heartwarming, given the hurdles he faced three months ago. In August, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence following a heated altercation with Garcia.

Chigvintsev was released after posting a $25,000 bail, and authorities noted he was “cooperative in the process.” Although the District Attorney’s office decided not to press charges, Garcia filed for divorce on September 11.

She addressed her estranged husband’s exit from “DWTS” in her divorce filing, noting he had been removed as a pro dancer from the show a week before his arrest. Garcia implied that losing the gig impacted their marriage, claiming:

“Since being cut from ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ Artem had been growing increasingly angry, snapping at me and yelling. We had discussions about his need to control his anger.”

In his response to Garcia’s filing, The Blast reported that Chigvintsev blamed his estranged wife for his income losses. He stressed that he was dismissed from the dance show because of the domestic violence incident.

Chigvintsev claimed that the trauma of his arrest and Garcia’s false allegations caused him to lose significant income. He argued that he lost over $100 from failing to book gigs due to the bad rep he got from the case.

Part of Chigvintsev’s alleged losses included his revenue from social media promotions. He noted that Garcia continued to profit from this avenue while his career suffered from her lies to authorities.

He demanded the former wrestler pay for all his out-of-pocket expenses because the temporary restraining order against him was granted without substantial evidence. Chigvintsev also asked Garcia to cover his rent because he was kicked out of their home.

Although cops arrested Chigvintsev for the domestic violence incident in August, he argued that Garcia was the primary aggressor in the incident. He alleged she had anger issues, claiming:

“She is the one with the temper. I try to stay quiet and avoid it. She yells, and on 8/29/24, was yelling, pursuing me, and was the one who attacked me.”

Chigvintsev supported his claims with pictures of the injuries he received from Garcia’s alleged attacks. The snaps captured marks and bloody scratches on his elbow, hands, and behind his ear — a narrative his attorney echoed in a statement.

The legal rep claimed Chigvintsev made the 911 call in August, seeking protection from his wife’s persistent aggression. He was on the phone with dispatch while Garcia allegedly accused him of attempting to ruin her career in the background.

Will Artem Chigvintsev be able to secure his return to “DWTS” amid his bitter divorce from Nikki Garcia?