Cheryl Burke “In Complete Shock” Over ‘DWTS’ Pro Artem Chigvintsev’s Arrest

Former Dancing With the Stars pro Cheryl Burke recently expressed her shock over the arrest of her colleague and close friend Artem Chigvintsev. Burke shared her thoughts on her iHeart podcast Sex, Lies and Spray Tans, recorded on August 30. She revealed her disbelief and concern over the incident, given their long-standing friendship.

Chigvintsev was taken into custody on August 29 in Napa County, California. He faces charges under California penal code 273.5(a), which prohibits injuring a spouse, cohabitant, or fellow parent in acts of domestic violence. His bail was set at $25,000, which he posted for his release.

Reflecting on the arrest, Burke mentioned that processing the news has been challenging. “My heart goes out to everyone involved,” she said. “It’s just really hard for me ’cause he’s my family. I don’t know what to say here other than I hope everybody’s OK.” Burke also shared that like the fans of the show, she’s trying to make sense of the situation. “Domestic violence is so serious, and I guess we’ll soon be updated with whatever rolls out,” she added. “I just hope his kid’s OK, his wife. This is kind of shocking for me still.”

The sense of disbelief was evident in her voice as she struggled with the revelation. “Domestic violence and Artem don’t really…” she said, pausing mid-sentence, illustrating her shock.

The incident happened in Yountville, California, just before 10 a.m. on August 29, when deputies responded to a domestic violence call. An arrest was made on the scene, with reports indicating that injuries were involved, though no specific victim was identified. It’s worth noting that Chigvintsev has been married to former WWE wrestler Nikki Garcia (also known as Nikki Bella) since 2022. However, it remains unclear if she was part of the incident.

Burke, a seasoned participant in DWTS since Season 2, has won two mirror ball trophies and taken part in 26 seasons. Chigvintsev, on the other hand, has competed in a dozen seasons of the show, winning in 2020. He is not slated to appear in the upcoming 33rd season, which begins on September 17.

Following the arrest, a representative for Nikki Garcia released a statement to People. “This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time,” the statement read.