Former Dancing With the Stars professional Cheryl Burke opened up about former colleague and shut pal Artem Chigvintsev’s arrest earlier this week, calling it “surprising.”
“I hesitate to smile proper now due to the present information … which I’m in full shock about,” she started in an Aug. 30 episode of her iHeart podcast Intercourse, Lies and Spray Tans. The dancer, who has competed alongside Chigvintsev for a big chunk of the present’s airing, described him as “somebody who I’ve grown up with,” as they used to stay collectively in her household’s house within the Bay Space.
As beforehand reported by Deadline, Chigvintsev was arrested early on Aug. 29 in Napa County, Calif. on California penal code 273.5(a), which makes it unlawful to injure a partner, cohabitant or fellow guardian in an act of home violence. He was launched after posting bail set at $25,000.
“My coronary heart goes out to everybody concerned,” Burke mentioned. “It’s simply actually laborious for me ’trigger he’s my household. I don’t know what to say right here apart from I hope everyone’s OK.”
Talking in a somber tone, Burke mentioned she will get “form of emotional” and is processing the information alongside followers of the present. “Home violence is so critical, and I assume we’ll quickly be up to date with no matter rolls out,” she mentioned. “I simply hope his child’s OK, his spouse. That is form of surprising for me nonetheless.”
“Home violence and Artem don’t actually …” she mentioned, trailing off, “that’s why it’s so surprising.”
Per earlier reporting, the incident passed off in Yountville, Calif. previous to 10 a.m., when deputies responded to a home violence name. An arrest was made on the scene, and accidents had been reportedly concerned, although no sufferer was recognized. Chigvintsev has been married to former WWE wrestler Nikki Garcia (aka Nikki Bella) since 2022, nevertheless it’s unclear whether or not she was concerned within the incident.
Burke has been a fixture of DWTS since she joined in Season 2, successful two mirror ball trophies and taking part in 26 seasons. In the meantime, Chigvintsev has competed on the present for a dozen seasons, successful in 2020. He isn’t set to be a part of the upcoming collection’ thirty third season, which can debut Sept. 17.
A day after the arrest, a consultant of Garcia’s informed Individuals in a assertion, “It is a non-public matter, and Nikki asks for privateness for her and her household at the moment.”
