Nikki Garcia details ‘weak moments’ after Artem Chigvintsev breakup

Nikki Garcia She shares an encouraging message with fans after her messy breakup with Artem Chigvintsev.

“I just want you to know that you are a lot stronger than you think,” Garcia, 41, said on the Sunday, December 15, episode of the show. “The Nikki and Brie Show” podcast.. “And also, you know, in our strongest moments, we definitely have very weak moments. And we just have to figure out how to overcome that – what do we do? Who should we lean on? What do we need to bring into our lives and surround ourselves with, and what can nourish Our spirit and makes us strong? I’ve been dedicating myself to that for the past few months and it’s really helping.

Garcia noted that she has not had a “day without tears” since then Her divorce settlement From Chigvintsev, 42, last month. “I just know that situations like this, divorce, whatever it is, it takes a piece of you. It takes a piece of your heart that will never grow back or be replaced, but the question is, ‘How do we make that piece of you become strong?’

Garcia and Chigvintsev began dating in 2019 after competing together on Season 25 of Dancing with the stars in 2017. The couple welcomed their son Matteo in 2020 and married in 2022.

Shortly after their celebration Second wedding anniversary In August, Chigvintsev was He was arrested for domestic battery the next incident Related to Garcia and their son. Napa County District Attorney Alison Haley It was announced in September that Chigvintsev No fees will be charged domestic violence case after conducting a “comprehensive” investigation into the incident. (Chigvintsev’s lawyer also claimed it was Not the “primary aggressor” in the incident.)

Us Weekly She confirmed in September that Garcia had filed for divorce from Chigvintsev, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split and listing their names. Date of separation On August 29th. In response to the lawsuit, Chigvintsev requested joint custody of Matteo and spousal support in court documents obtained exclusively by him we.

Both exes filed Restraining orders against each other in October, accusing the other of causing Physical altercations During their marriage. The restraining orders were dropped when the two finalized their divorce last month.

On Sunday’s podcast, Garcia noted that “things will get better” while listening to voicemails from fans sharing similar divorce experiences. “What I realized during this phase is that support and love is everything,” she said. “And from family, from friends, and then from people you just know through podcasts or social media or on the streets, it means a lot.”

Garcia went on to say that her breakup with Chigvintsev made her think about her “whole life,” explaining, “Bad things have happened to me. So, it made me sit and wonder: Why did all these things happen to me?”

From her suffering, Garcia learned that everything happens for a reason. “I feel like, well, God put this in my path for a reason. So, what am I supposed to learn here? What life tool am I supposed to take here to overcome this and get through it and make my path brighter and better? She said,” And then I can share this with others and bring them here too.” “This is what I learned: No more housing, no more of this. Take the pain and move past it and know that this is okay. Like, it’s okay to be sad, it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to have all of these emotions.

Now she is focused on using her experience to help others. “I feel like things happen to us because we’re supposed to help others that way,” she told listeners. “And I couldn’t, you know, believe how many women came up to me. And it was so amazing to sit down and have some great conversations with people and, you know, not feel alone.”