Artem Chigvintsev says his wife Nikki Bella threw a shoe at him before arrest: 911 call
The dispatch call associated with Artem Chigvintsev’s domestic violence arrest Thursday morning has been released — and it reveals what allegedly happened between the couple.
The 911 operator relayed the 42-year-old “Dancing With the Stars” pro’s message to authorities after she called the emergency line for medical help.
In the call obtained by TMZ on Friday, the 911 operator says, “Initially it came in as a medical request, but now it’s a RP… [reporting party] He is saying that he had a fight with his wife and his wife threw shoes at the RP. There is also a child at the scene.”
The dispatcher added, “Medical is on the way.”
Chigvintsev and his wife Nikki Bella were at their Napa Valley home with their 4-year-old son Matteo after celebrating their second wedding anniversary on Monday.
When officers asked if there were “injury details,” the 911 operator responded, “Negative, not at this time. Hard to get information. There’s an active 415.” [disturbing the peace] in the background.”
“We’re trying to separate the two sides,” Disbacher added.
A source close to the ongoing investigation previously said Chigvintsev had called 911 and called back a few minutes later to ask emergency services not to come, which is also reflected in the call.
The operator was heard saying, “The RP is saying no more medical attention is needed.”
Before the call ended, she said, “There is a four-year-old child at the scene. The wife of the RP responsible currently has the child. Both parties have separated.”
Insiders told TMZ the call was made around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. Chigvintsev was arrested about an hour later.
Meanwhile, Bella, 40, has called for concessions during this time.
“This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for herself and her family at this time,” a representative for the retired wrestler told The Post on Friday.
Bella hasn’t spoken out about the alleged assault, but on Wednesday she posted on her Instagram Story that she got a facial at a local spa in Napa.
The former WWE star also remembered her anniversary with Chigvintsev, whom she married in 2022.
Bella posted the lyrics to Elvis Presley’s song “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and explained in the caption, “This song is our love story.”
The athlete added, “I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Talking to him and God. How quickly my feelings came. It all felt so fast. And then this song came. That’s when I knew I was falling in love with him and it was all meant to be.”
Chigvintsev even described Bella as his “everything” on Instagram.
“Happy anniversary my love, I can’t see my life without you [sic] You,” the “Strictly Come Dancing” alumnus concluded.
Chigvintsev was arrested by the Napa County Sheriff’s Department on a domestic violence charge just before 10 a.m. His bail was set at $25,000, and he was released that afternoon. A photo of the reality star obtained by The Post surfaced a few hours later.
A representative for the Napa County Sheriff’s Office told TMZ that officers responded to a domestic violence call in Yountville and took Chigvintsev into custody at the scene.
A sheriff’s representative confirmed to the Post that the alleged victim has asked for complete confidentiality as the investigation is ongoing.
Following Chigvintsev’s arrest, comments from his former “Strictly Come Dancing” partner, Fern Britton, about their time together on the show have resurfaced.
According to the Daily Mail , the 67-year-old claimed her partner “kicked and pushed” her during the show.
Britton revealed in a 2015 interview with The Times newspaper that “[Artem] They would look at my legs and kick or push me.”
The English TV presenter was eliminated in fifth place on the show’s 10th season in 2012, and recalled that Chigvintsev allegedly told her: “You just stand there and don’t move; I’ll dance around you.”
Britton alleged: “He was like, ‘Shut your mouth. Go home before I kill you.'”
“I would say, ‘Oh please just kill me, it’ll be easier,’” she added. “Or what was his other one? ‘If you go have a cup of tea now, I’ll blow up like an atomic bomb.’ I thought, well, I’m not going to correct him on that.”
The “Breakfast Time” co-host candidly stated that she and Chigvintsev “loved each other for a moment or two” but that he “was not the embodiment of attraction.”
As Britton said: “I enjoyed it, but it was serious at the same time.”
Chigvintsev did not take the author’s claims lightly, telling the Daily Express in 2015: “I believe I treated Fern with respect and genuine care and these claims about me are contrary to everything I believe in and who I am.”
“I can’t imagine what is the reason behind such statements, which is a shock to me,” he said.
Chigvintsev exited “Strictly” to compete on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2015. The Mirrorball champion danced with Charity Lawson in season 32 last year and came in fourth place.
However, a source has now told Page Six, “There were no plans for Artem Chigvintsev to be a part of Season 33 of ‘Dancing With the Stars,'” which premieres September 17 on ABC.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
