Maksim Chmerkovskiy Defends Artem Chigvintsev Amid Domestic Violence Arrest, Urges Accountability

Maksim Chmerkovskiy Defends Artem Chigvintsev Amid Domestic Violence Arrest, Urges Accountability


Maksim Chmerkovskiy recently shared his thoughts on Artem Chigvintsev’s arrest for domestic violence. In an appearance on "The TMZ Podcast," Maksim expressed that he will not rush to judgment about his friend and former co-star. He believes the Artem he knows would never hurt a woman, but he emphasized that if the allegations are true, Artem must take responsibility for his actions.

Maksim mentioned that he reached out to Artem after hearing about the incident, conveying his support while also reminding him of the seriousness of the situation. He acknowledged his close relationship with Nikki Bella, Artem's estranged wife, wishing her well during their difficult divorce.

Regarding Artem's potential return to "Dancing with the Stars," Maksim indicated that if it were solely about dance skills, Artem should come back. However, he expressed uncertainty about this if the allegations are proven true.

Artem was arrested in late August after he called paramedics for help with an injury related to the incident. Although he canceled the ambulance request shortly after, police arrived and arrested him on charges of felony corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant. Following the arrest, Nikki filed for divorce and sought custody of their four-year-old son, Matteo. The couple was recently seen together for the first time since the incident, with Nikki maintaining her distance. While Maksim supports Artem, he remains cautious about the situation.