DWTS Pro Spent Christmas With Ex

Nikki Garcia revealed she recently spent time with her estranged ex, “Dancing with the Stars” pro dancer Artem Chigvintsev, despite their messy breakup.

In a January 2025 interview with Us Weekly, the WWE star said the former couple’s son is their priority two months after their divorce was finalized, Garcia told the outlet that Matteo, 4, is used to his parents each having their “own homes.” “You get to go see Mommy and you get to go see Daddy,” she said of her little boy. But for Christmas, both parents were together.

Garcia revealed that she wanted to ensure that her son had special holiday memories, so she reunited with Chigvintsev for two Christmas traditions. “On Christmas, we made sure we were both there when we baked Santa’s cookies,” she said. “Matteo went to bed and we both were there when he woke up. Because he’s our focus, we want to keep those moments.”

“I’ve used words like divorce, [but] it’s only been when he’s asked,” she added of her child.

In August 2024, Chigvintsev and Garcia had an argument that resulted in a 911 call. Criminal charges were not filed against Chigvintsev following a domestic violence investigation by Napa County District Attorney, People magazine reported at the time. But the couple, who wed in 2022, split immediately and their divorce was finalized in November.

Nikki Garcia Didn’t Think She’d Spend Time With Chigvintsev So Soon

Garcia previously talked about her unexpected co-parenting situation in a December 2024 episode of her podcast “The Nikki & Brie Show.” She described the arrangement —and her days without her son— as “tough.”

“I cry every time he leaves,” she said on the December 2 podcast. “I just cry so hard as I’m picking up his trains and cleaning his plates whatever it may be — doing his laundry — I just cry so hard.”

She noted that she and Chigvintsev were “doing a great job” at co-parenting despite their estrangement, but at that point, she couldn’t see them spending Christmas together.

“We both are very focused on Matteo and that’s the great thing,” she said. “And I do think in time… I pray every day that we will be great friends and will be able to share holidays together. I don’t think that will happen anytime soon, but I pray for it because, again, that’s what Matteo deserves.”

Artem Chigvintsev Never Thought He’d Be a Dad & Nikki Garcia ‘Definitely’ Does Not Want More Kids

Chigvintsev, 42, previously admitted he never expected that he would be a father. “First of all, I never thought I’d be a dad, than I never thought I would have a son,” he told Entertainment Tonight in 2023.

The pro dancer also said he wasn’t sure if he would have more children with his then-wife Garcia. “I’m not the one carrying [the child] around for nine months. So that’s not going to be my question to answer,” he said.

In the new Us interview, Garcia answered the question. “I definitely do not want more kids. I am fine,” she told the outlet. “Just being 41, and I feel like I’m back to being myself finally. I’m just getting out of the toddler years, and I don’t want to go back. I’m chugging cold brews to hang at the playground. I’m like, OK, it’s a lot!”