Artem Chigvintsev said wife Nikki Bella threw a shoe at him before arrest: 911 call
The dispatch call from Artem Chigvintsev’s domestic violence arrest Thursday morning has been released — and reveals what allegedly happened between the dancer and his wife, Nikki Bella.
The 911 operator relayed the message from the “Dancing With the Stars” pro, 42, to officers after Chigvintsev called the emergency service line to request medical assistance.
In the call, obtained by TMZ Friday, the 911 operator says, “Initially this came in as requesting medical, but now the RP [reporting party] is stating he got into an argument with his wife and his wife threw shoes at RP. There is a child on scene.”
The dispatcher adds, “Medical en route.”
Chigvintsev and his wife were at their Napa Valley home with their son Matteo, 4, after celebrating their second wedding anniversary Monday.
When officers ask if there is a “description of the injury,” the 911 operator responds, “Negative, not at this time. Hard to get info. There’s an active 415 [disturbing the peace] in the background.”
“We’re trying to get the two parties to separate,” the dispatcher continues.
A source connected to the ongoing investigation previously told the outlet that Chigvintsev called 911 before calling back minutes later to tell emergency services not to come, which is reflected in the call.
The operator is heard saying, “RP is stating no medical is needed now.”
Before the call ends, she states, “There is a 4-year-old child on the scene. The responsible RP’s wife currently has the child. Parties are separated.”
Insiders revealed to TMZ that the call was placed around 8:30 a.m. PT Thursday. Chigvintsev was arrested roughly an hour later.
Meanwhile, Bella, 40, has asked for considerate treatment during a difficult time.
A rep for the retired wrestler told The Post Friday, “This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”
Bella has been tight-lipped about the alleged assault. Prior to the incident, on Wednesday she posted an Instagram story about getting a facial at a Napa spa.
The ex-WWE star also took a moment to acknowledge her anniversary with Chigvintsev, whom she married in 2022.
Bella posted lyrics to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” explaining in the caption that “this song is our love story.”
The athlete added, “I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God. How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on. That’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be.”
Chigvintsev also took to Instagram, where he referred to Bella as his “everything.”
“Happy anniversary my love, can’t see my life with out [sic] you,” the “Strictly Come Dancing” alum concluded.
Chigvintsev was arrested by the Napa County Sheriff’s Department just before 10 a.m. on a felony domestic violence charge. His bail was set at $25,000, and he was released that afternoon. The reality star’s mugshot obtained by The Post came out hours later.
A rep 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.
The sheriff’s rep confirmed to The Post that the alleged victim has asked for total confidentiality as the investigation remains ongoing.
In the aftermath of Chigvintsev’s arrest, his former “Strictly Come Dancing” partner Fern Britton’s comments about their time together on the show have resurfaced.
The 67-year-old claimed her partner “kicked and shoved” her while on the show, per the Daily Mail Thursday.
Britton revealed in a 2015 conversation with the Times newspaper that “[Artem] would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me.”
The English TV presenter, who was eventually eliminated fifth on the show’s 10th season in 2012, recalled Chigvintsev allegedly telling her earlier: “You just stand there and don’t move; I dance round you.”
Britton alleged: “He was like, ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you.’
“I would say, ‘Oh please just kill me, it would be easier,’” she continued. “Or what was his other one? ‘If you go for a cup of tea now, I will blow off like an atomic bomb.’ I thought, well, I won’t correct him on that one.”
The “Breakfast Time” co-host said she and Chigvintsev “did love each other for a moment or two” but that he “wasn’t charm personified.”
Britton added: “I did kind of enjoy it, but it was grim at the same time.”
Chigvintsev responded to Britton’s claims, telling the Daily Express in 2015: “I believe I treated Fern with respect and genuine care and these claims about me are the opposite of everything I believe in and the person I am.”
He added, “I cannot imagine what has prompted such statements which come as a shock to me.”
Chigvintsev exited “Strictly” to compete on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2015. The Mirrorball champ danced last year on Season 32 alongside Charity Lawson, coming 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.
