Artem Chigvintsev Attends DWTS’ 500th Episode Celebration Following Domestic Violence Arrest

Artem Chigvintsev made a rare appearance after his domestic violence arrest when he celebrated the 500th episode of Dancing With the Stars in the audience.

The Russia native, 42, sat beside fellow DWTS pros Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Peta, 38, later shared a video on her Instagram Stories of the three of them dancing in the crowd during the live broadcast on Tuesday, November 12. Artem was not asked back for Dancing With the Stars season 33, a decision that was made prior to his August arrest.

On August 29, the professional dancer was arrested in Napa Valley, California, after he made a 911 call requesting help. Artem canceled the call while authorities were en route, but officials returned to the scene later the same day and placed him under arrest.

He was booked on California penal code 273.5(a), according to jail records viewed by Life & Style. That specific code “makes it illegal to injure a spouse, cohabitant or fellow parent in an act of domestic violence. This offense is also referred to as domestic abuse, domestic violence or corporal injury to a spouse.”

Artem posted bail and was released the same day. Since then, both he and his estranged wife, Nikki Garcia (formerly known as Nikki Bella,) have filed for divorce. Nikki, 40, requested sole custody of their 4-year-old son, Matteo, while Artem requested joint custody. On September 24, Artem announced that the domestic violence charges against him had been dropped, but he and the former Total Bellas star have since filed restraining orders against each other.

On October 16, a judge granted Artem’s request for joint custody of Matteo after a two-hour hearing, according to documents obtained by TMZ.

However, the ongoing divorce between Artem and Nikki has continued to get messier. Earlier this month, Artem claimed that his arrest resulted in him losing $100,000.

“It is not true that I have not been able to find other work as a dancer. I normally start jobs in November and it goes for 20 weekends,” Artem reportedly stated in court documents viewed by the Daily Mail on November 6. “After the mugshot and the arrest based on her false allegations, I was taken off the website faculty list resulting in loss of over $100K in income. I also lost the social media promotion revenue, which she continues to benefit from as she was more worried about her career when she lied to the police, than mine.”

Artem also claimed that Nikki lied to the police the day of his arrest and alleged she was the abusive party in their relationship.

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

He continued, “Not only did she lie to the police so that her career remains intact, ruining mine, but she used the court proceeding to keep our son away from me for almost a month, not letting me see him until this Court issued its 50/50 orders on August 15, which I am very grateful for. Almost a month without Matteo was miserable for me, and I am sure for him as well, and selfish of Wife.”