Former Strictly professional dancer arrested in California over 'domestic violence'
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Artem Chigvintsev was on the BBC show for three years after joining in 2010.
Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev - Argentine Tango - Strictly Come Dancing - Week 7 - Long edit
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Artem Chigvintsev was arrested on Thursday morning in California on suspicion of domestic violence. The Russian dancer was on the BBC dance show for three years before leaving in 2013.
The professional dancer, who won the BBC competition in 2010 with celebrity partner Kara Tointon, was booked into Napa County Jail on Thursday morning, according to online jail records.
It is not clear what led to the arrest of Chigvintsev, who posted 25,000 dollar (£19,000) bail.
The 42-year-old also made it to the semi-final of the BBC show in 2011 with actress Holly Valance, before he was partnered with TV veteran Fern Britton in the 2012 series.
He was last partnered with Coronation Street star Natalie Gumede in 2013, with the pair securing the runner-up spot.
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Chigvintsev later moved to the US version of Strictly, Dancing With The Stars, where in 2017 he was partnered with his future wife - WWE star Nikki Bella.
The couple have a son, who was born in 2020 just hours before Nikki's twin sister Brie Bella announced the arrival of her second child.
Nikki Bella and Chigvintsev previously said they found out they were expecting just two-and-a-half weeks after getting engaged in Paris, and they married in 2022.
His arrest comes days after he celebrated the two-year wedding anniversary with his wife.
Artem's representatives have been contacted for comment by Express Online.
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Artem and his celebrity partner Kara Tointon began dating after they won the BBC competition back in 2010 and were together for four years before calling it quits.
The actress revealed to The Telegraph that their relationship had come to an end, saying: "The reason I haven't spoken about it is because I hate reading about myself in that way."
According to Hello! Magazine, the former couple found it hard to spend time together after Artem went to the USA to compete on Dancing With The Stars. Also due to his visa, he was unable to stay in the UK permanently.
