Nikki Garcia 'Continues to Ask for Privacy' After Filing for Divorce from Artem Chigvintsev Following His Arrest
Garcia filed for divorce nearly two weeks after Chigvintsev was arrested on a charge of corporal injury to a spouse in Napa Valley, California
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From left: Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella at the 9th Annual Variety Charity Poker & Casino Night on July 24, 2019Nikki Garcia is continuing to ask that fans respect her privacy one day after filing for divorce from her husband, Artem Chigvintsev.
A rep for the former WWE star confirmed that Garcia, 40, filed for divorce, adding, “She continues to ask for privacy for her and her family at this time.”
Online records obtained by PEOPLE indicated that Garcia filed the paperwork in Napa Valley, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
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Artem Chigvintsev (L) and Nikki Bella attend the PUBG Mobile's #FIGHT4THEAMAZON Event at Avalon Hollywood on December 9, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.Related: Artem Chigvintsev Was Not Returning for New Season of Dancing with the Stars Before Arrest
The filing comes nearly two weeks after Chigvintsev, 42, was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and hours after a source told PEOPLE that Garcia had obtained a divorce lawyer.
PEOPLE has reached out to Chigvintsev's rep for comment.
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Chigvintsev was arrested on Aug. 29 in Napa Valley, Calif. on a charge of corporal injury to a spouse. He was booked in the Napa County Jail and given a $25,000 bail before being released in less than an hour, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.
Related: Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev's Relationship Timeline
While Garcia wasn't named in the documents, she was named in the 911 call about the incident reported by TMZ. According to the dispatcher heard on the outlet's audio, Garcia allegedly threw shoes at Chigvintsev during the argument.
At the time, a rep for Garcia told PEOPLE, "This is a private matter and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time."
Rumors about their split continued to grow when Garcia was spotted without her wedding ring while making her first public appearance at Netflix's Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef, a live hot dog-eating competition she co-hosted with Rob Riggle on Sept. 2.
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Artem Chigvintsev (L) and Nikki Bella attend FOX's Teen Choice Awards 2019 on August 11, 2019 in Hermosa Beach, California.Garcia and Chigvintsev met in 2017 when they were paired together on season 25 of Dancing with the Stars, although the retired WWE wrestler was engaged to John Cena at the time. In July 2018, Garcia and Cena officially ended their relationship after six years together.
The DWTS pair reconnected later that year and made their relationship Instagram official in March 2019. Since then, Garcia and Chigvintsev have celebrated several milestones together: They got engaged in November 2019, welcomed son Matteo in July 2020 and said, "I do" in August 2022.
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