Nikki Garcia, formerly known as Nikki Bella, has officially filed for divorce from Artem Chigvintsev after just two years of marriage, Closer can confirm. This news comes after a series of events that have left fans and followers of the couple deeply concerned about the state of their relationship. Let's dive into the details and try to understand what led to this point.
Divorce Papers Filed in Napa Valley
The former WWE superstar, now 40, officially filed the divorce papers on Wednesday, September 11, in Napa Valley, California. The timing of this filing is particularly significant because it comes just two weeks after Artem was arrested in Napa Valley on August 29. At the time of his arrest, Artem was booked into Napa County Jail on charges of felony corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant. He was later released after posting a $25,000 bail.
What Does the Arrest Mean?
At the time of Artem's arrest, it wasn't immediately clear whether Nikki was directly involved in the incident. However, according to California Penal Code Section 273.5(a), this law makes it illegal to cause physical harm to a spouse, cohabitant, or fellow parent in an act of domestic violence. This offense is often referred to as domestic abuse, domestic violence, or corporal injury to a spouse. The law is strict and doesn't rely on hearsay. Instead, it's based on visible evidence that law enforcement officers can identify at the scene.
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To give you a better idea, Henry Wofford, a spokesman for the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, explained the situation this way: "When it comes to felony domestic violence, it’s not based on hearsay. The deputies saw something that is apparent." He went on to say, "I’m not telling you this is what happened in this particular case, but sometimes there would be evidence of blood, sometimes scratches, sometimes it's bruises — it's something visible where the deputies said, ‘OK, we’re making this arrest.’"
911 Call Details Emerge
A recording of the 911 call made by Artem during the incident was later released by TMZ. In the call, Artem claimed that Nikki had thrown shoes at him. The dispatcher could be heard explaining that the call initially came in as a request for medical assistance, but it quickly shifted to an argument between Artem and Nikki. "There is a child on scene. Medical en route," the dispatcher added. Artem is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on November 4. He and Nikki share a son, Matteo, who was born in July 2020.
In the wake of all this, Nikki spoke out through a statement issued by her representative. "This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time," the rep told Us Weekly. It's clear that Nikki is trying to protect her family and focus on what's best for her child during such a challenging period.
Hours before officially filing for divorce, it was reported that Nikki had already hired a divorce lawyer. Fans noticed that she was spotted without her wedding ring while hosting Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef, which streamed on Netflix on September 2. It seems that her decision to end the marriage wasn't made lightly. A source close to the situation told Life & Style, "Friends are telling Nikki she married a monster. And she wants out."
A Love Story Turned Sour
Before all this unfolded, Artem and Nikki celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary by paying tribute to each other on Instagram. Nikki posted a heartfelt video accompanied by lyrics to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” She captioned the post with a reflection on how their love story unfolded. "This song is our love story. I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem," she wrote. "Having a conversation with He & God. How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on. And that’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be. Happy Anniversary @theartemc I love you!"
