Nearly a decade before professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev of “Dancing With the Stars” was arrested Thursday on suspicion of domestic violence in the Napa Valley town of Yountville, a popular British TV host described how he treated her roughly when they worked together on the BBC show “Strictly Come Dancing.”

Fern Britton spoke at an event hosted by the Times UK in 2015, describing his foul language and saying he had kicked and pushed her while coaching her through a routine for the British dance competition, the Daily Mail reported.

“He (Artem) would look at my feet and either kick me or push me,” said Britton, who performed on the show with the Russian dancer in 2012. He allegedly told her: “You just stand there and don’t move; I’ll dance around you.”

Britton also said he told her, “Shut up. Go home before I kill you.”

Britton’s comments originally resurfaced last month in connection with a workplace bullying scandal involving male professional dancers on the BBC dance show, the Daily Mail reported. But her comments are certain to gain wider attention following the news that Chigvintsev was arrested shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday in Yountville, the Wine Country home of the French Laundry and other upscale restaurants, TMZ reported.

The identity of the alleged victim in Thursday’s domestic violence incident, and their relationship to Chigvintsev, have not been released. Chigvintsev and his wife, retired TV personality and retired WWE star Nikki Garcia, own a home in the Napa Valley and celebrated their second anniversary on Monday.

It was also not disclosed whether the arrest occurred at a residence or in a public place. A spokesperson for the Napa County Sheriff’s Office told TMZ that an arrest was made at the scene, that the victim requested confidentiality, and that injuries were reported. Chigvintsev remained in custody Thursday afternoon while the investigation was ongoing, the New York Post reported.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound dancer was arrested under California state law for causing “bodily injury resulting in a traumatic condition” to an inmate’s significant other, including a spouse, ex-spouse, domestic partner, fiancé or the mother or father of the offender’s child.

Chigvintsev, who moved to the United States from Russia in 2003, first gained professional attention as a ballroom dancer on “Strictly Come Dancing” in the United Kingdom in 2010. He moved to “Dancing With the Stars” in 2014 and his celebrity partners include Mischa Barton, “Brady Bunch” alum Maureen McCormick and former Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan.

For season 25 in 2017, Chigvintsev was paired with Garcia, his future wife who competed in WWE under the name Nicki Bella. They began dating and got engaged in 2020. Garcia also gave birth to their son that year. They were married in Paris on August 26, 2022, and reportedly have a $1.5 million home in Napa Valley surrounded by a large plot of land, the New York Post and Life and Style reported. They showed off their home on an episode of MTV Cribs in November 2023.

In honor of their second wedding anniversary on Monday, they both shared videos and photos from their lavish Paris wedding. Garcia captioned her video with a cover of the Elvis Presley song “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” writing, “This song is our love story.” Chigvintsev responded, “Happy anniversary, my love. I can’t see my life without you. You’re everything I want, I love living with you.”

Britton, the British TV personality, gave a less glowing portrayal of Chigvintsev in 2015, saying they “loved each other for a moment or two.” She even said she “kind of enjoyed” the “Strictly Come Dancing” experience, even though her partner “wasn’t the epitome of charm” and the experience “was grim at the same time.”

Chigvintsev, in turn, responded to Britton’s claims in a statement to the Daily Express, the Daily Mail reported.

“I believe I treated Fern with respect and genuine care and these claims about me are the antithesis of everything I believe in and the person I am,” he said. “I cannot imagine what has caused such statements to come as a shock to me.”

The regular “DWTS” actor will not return for the upcoming Season 33 of the show, according to Page Six. “There were no plans for Artem to be a part of Season 33,” a source said.

Originally published: August 29, 2024 at 3:36 PM