close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Former Strictly star arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse in California | Strictly Come Dancing
news

Former Strictly star arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse in California | Strictly Come Dancing

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Artem Chigvintsev has been arrested in California on suspicion of domestic violence.

The professional dancer, who won the BBC competition in 2010 with his celebrity partner Kara Tointon, was booked into the Napa County Jail on Thursday morning, online jail records show.

It is not clear what led to the arrest of Chigvintsev, who posted bail of $25,000 (£19,000).

Chigvintsev later appeared on the American version of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars, where he was partnered with his future wife, WWE star Nikki Bella, in 2017.

The Russian dancer joined Strictly in 2010 during season eight, when he was partnered with former EastEnders actor Tointon, a relationship that blossomed into a real-life romance that lasted several years.

The 42-year-old actor also reached the semi-finals of the series in 2011 with actor Holly Valance, before being partnered with TV veteran Fern Britton in the 2012 series.

He last starred with Coronation Street star Natalie Gumede in 2013, when they finished in second place.

The couple have a son, who was born in 2020, just hours before Nikki’s twin sister, Brie Garcia (aka Brie Bella), announced the birth of her second child.

The siblings starred in E!’s reality series Total Bellas for five years.

Nikki Bella and Chigvintsev previously revealed that they found out they were expecting a baby two and a half weeks after their engagement in Paris. They married in 2022.

His arrest comes days after he celebrated his two-year wedding anniversary with his wife.

Representatives of Chigvintsev have been contacted for comment.