Artem Chigvintsev Was Not Returning for New Season ofDancing with the StarsBefore Arrest

Mar. 15, 2025

Artem Chigvintsev at the 2023 Industry Dance Awards held at Avalon Hollywood on October 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Artem Chigvintsevwill not be returning to the ballroom.

PEOPLE has learned there were no plans for the pro to take part in season 33 ofDancing with the Starsprior tohis arreston Thursday, Aug. 29.

Chigvintsev was arrested on charges of felony corporal injury to spouse in Napa Valley, Calif. He was booked with a $25,000 bail and released later that day.

A rep for Chigvintsev’s wifeNikki Garciatells PEOPLE, “This is a private matter and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

The decision for Chigvintsev to sit out the upcoming season is not uncommon as professional dancers often rotate seasons based on celebrity castings.

ABC/Eric McCandless

The full cast for the new season of the ABC dance competition will be revealed at a later date. Olympic bronze medalistStephen Nedoroscikwas the firstcelebrity contestantto be announced.

Chigvintsev has competed in the last 12 seasons of the show — including the last four. He was most recently paired with formerBacheloretteCharity Lawson, placing fourth in the competition.

He and season 29 partnerKaitlyn Bristowe, who was also a lead ofThe Bachelorette, won the mirrorball trophy in 2020.

Chigvintsev met his wife, formerly known as Nikki Bella, in 2017 when they werepaired togetheron season 25 ofDancing with the Stars. At the time, Garcia, 40, was still in a relationship with then-fiancéJohn Cenabut the pair split a year later.

The retired WWE wrestler laterreconnectedwith Chigvintsev that same year, and the two eventuallyconfirmedtheir romance in March 2019. They announced their engagement eight months later and in July 2020, they welcomed theirfirst childtogether, son Matteo.

From left: Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella 9th Annual Variety Charity Poker & Casino Night, Paramount Studios on July 24, 2019.MediaPunch/Shutterstock

TheDancing with the Starspro was arrested just before 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29. He was then booked in the Napa County Jail less than an hour later and released later that day.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Season 33 ofDancing with the Starswill premiere Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with the episode available to stream the next day on Hulu.

source: people.com