All eyes have been on Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia for the last week after the Dancing with the Stars pro dancer was arrested for alleged felony corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant.
The news has shocked fans to their core, and now, they are waiting to see if the couple, who had previously appeared to be happy, are headed for divorce.
A clue may have come recently, as fans of Artem noticed his social media bio had changed, excluding any mention of Nikki (but then he caused even more confusion with his follow-up move).
On August 26, Artem Chigvintsev posted a heartfelt tribute to Nikki Garcia on their wedding anniversary, and then, his Instagram bio did not mention being married.
Fans noticed Artem’s bio read: “Father to Matteo, DWTS Pro Dancer, Emmy Nominated Choreographer, DWTS Mirror Ball Winner, SCD Mirror Ball Winner.”
So, why did he delete the mention of Nikki and remove her Instagram handle from his bio? His decision did not last long.
Artem adjusted his bio to include Nikki’s Instagram handle and followed it with a bride emoji (causing even more confusion).
At this stage, it is impossible to comment on the status of the couple’s relationship. However, there have been reports that Nikki is contacting divorce lawyers, and she started a day after the alleged domestic violence incident occurred.
A source told TMZ, “Her intention is to file to end her marriage to Artem Chigvintsev.”
In addition to the reports that Nikki intends to file for divorce, it has also been reported that she is not wearing their wedding ring, and Artem is not staying at their shared home.
“Our sources also say Artem is not staying at the family home … we’re told he’s been staying at a friend’s house,” TMZ reports.
Fans React To News Of Artem Chigvintsev’s Arrest
Another clue that the reality TV stars may not have given up on their marriage is that their social media posts still include each other.
On Nikki Garcia’s week-old anniversary post, fans have been eager to share their thoughts about her marriage. And they are taking sides!
“ARTEM IS A GRET MAN. SHE IS DIFFICULT,” a comment reads. Others have claimed that their relationship on social media is fake.
“Social media is not real, this is all for show. Felony assault is very serious and it means her injuries were obvious. Don’t believe these people’s posts, she was being abused,” a comment reads.
Other reactions include “They both hit each other,” “It was over her throwing shoes at him and Matteo being present,” and “I’m sure it was her, then she called 911 and blamed him.”
It is impossible to know what goes on behind closed doors, and it would be irresponsible to jump to conclusions.
However, some fans have reminded us of the seriousness of the allegations against Artem, and have suggested what they think Nikki should do in the situation.
“Not okay, ever. Profoundly disturbing. I only met Nikki and her sister one time, and it was 10 minutes or less, and they were so kind, funny as heck and very humble,” a fan wrote.
“Domestic violence, violence period — in •any• form is a crime. In every sense and in all manners. At all costs, protect the child. That’s the first act, the starting point. When we women find ourselves in any kind of a violent situation and there are children involved, this is what you do. It ends then and that is non-negotiable.”