Nikki Garcia broke her silence by speaking publicly on her podcast about her recent divorce from Artem Chigvintsev.
Garcia joined her sister Brie on The Nikki & Brie Show just weeks after her divorce from Chigvintsev was finalized.
Garcia stated she disconnected from social media and avoided coverage of the August incident to focus on their child’s privacy. She said she wishes Chigvintsev happiness.
It’s been tough, it’s been really tough. I’ve been heartbroken, sad. You dream of having this family and you have this incredible love and it goes the other way and you go from having a great love story to having a terrible one and never saw any of it coming in terms of what the ending would be, so it’s just been a struggle. And this is the thing, I know being a public figure I have to say a little bit about this and after this, I never want to talk about it again because I truly do want privacy for Matteo that has been the most important part but obviously, I’ve had a public relationship, I’m a public figure, so and I have to talk about what’s gone on.
Garcia added that their relationship had been in trouble for a while but put on a positive face in public:
When it came to our relationship it’s sad, it just hadn’t been great for a long time and I really played it up like things were a lot better than they were in the public eye, which I have regrets in that, I felt if I can put this person on a pedestal and maybe if this person hears it enough what I believe in them they can believe that in themselves.
In August, Chigvintsev was arrested after a 911 call was made from their home in Yountville, California over a domestic violence incident. Chigvintsev was taken to the Napa County Department of Correction and released later that day on bail. Prosecutors did not press charges, but Nikki filed for divorce.
Chigvintsev has disputed that he was the aggressor in the altercation.
Garcia filed for and was granted a restraining order and submitted a sworn declaration stating that Chigvintsev, “tackled me multiple times and pinned me down to the ground while our child was present.” She stated the two had been arguing which led to her throwing their child’s shoes at his leg and he stormed up the stairs with their child. Garcia stated she followed them upstairs and opened a door when Chigvintsev tackled her, grabbed her arms, and pinned her to the ground.
From TMZ:
She says Artem then went back into Matteo’s room and closed the door — and she says she again tried to push open the door, and he then opened it and pushed her across the hall into the couple’s bedroom, forcing her to the floor in their bathroom. She says he had his hands on her chest near her sternum, pressing down — she says she felt like she was suffocating — and she says she grabbed at his neck in an attempt to get him off.
Chigvintsev filed for his own restraining order against Garcia in October.
According to court documents, both restraining orders were dropped several weeks ago, and the two were granted shared custody of their child.
Their divorce settlement was finalized just weeks before a hearing was scheduled
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or find a local program that offers support.
