Lea Thompson recalled her rocky partnership with professional Artem Chigvintsev on Dancing With the Stars a decade in the past.
“It was laborious working with him as a result of it was his first 12 months and it was a giant deal to him,” Thompson, 63, stated on the Monday, September 9, episode of the “Intercourse, Lies and Spray Tans” podcast. “He was so intense. It was a lot extra essential to him than to me, actually. And in order that made me actually nervous, made me loopy after some time.”
The Again to the Future actress and Chigvintsev, now 42, have been partnered throughout season 19 of the ABC actuality sequence in 2014. After they positioned in sixth, future host Alfonso Ribeiro and professional Witney Carson took dwelling the Mirrorball Trophy.
Throughout her time on the sequence, Thompson alleged that she and Chigvintsev struggled with their artistic variations.
“It was additionally actually actually laborious for me as a result of I used to be a ballet dancer and a contemporary dancer. First day, he was like, ‘I’ve by no means taken any of that stuff, I’ve solely taken ballroom,’” Thompson instructed host and former DWTS professional Cheryl Burke. “All these items that I knew, he knew none of that. I used to be by no means allowed to say, ‘Can I do that?’ He would get so mad at me.”
Thompson known as Chigvintsev “so implacable,” including, “That was laborious since you’re speculated to additionally form of love them.”
When Burke requested when Thompson and Chigvintsev’s partnership left the “honeymoon section,” the actress stated she couldn’t keep in mind a precise time.
“I keep in mind as soon as, he was actually mad at me as a result of I used to be counting loopy,” Thompson stated. “He was like, ‘Why are you counting like that?’ I used to be like, ‘I’m sorry.’ I used to be like, ‘My thoughts works a special approach.’”
Thompson additionally recalled “one actually loopy factor” he instructed her that she couldn’t “imagine.”
“I keep in mind him telling me that males are a lot better than girls. And I stated, ‘Why?’ And he stated, ‘As a result of they’re stronger,’” Thompson stated. “And I used to be like, ‘However they don’t have infants. I’ve had a child.”
Whereas watching Chigvintsev compete throughout season 25 in 2017 with now-wife Nikki Garcia, Thompson recalled cheering on the retired wrestler. (Chigvintsev and Garcia completed in seventh place.)
“I noticed once they have been doing their dance that she flipped him over and threw him on the bottom. I used to be like, ‘Go!’” Thompson stated. “You already know, she did a wrestling transfer. You’re letting her present that she’s as sturdy as you. So I believed that was kinda cool.”
Thompson alleged that Chigvintsev has unfollowed her on social media. Regardless of their variations, Thompson stated she was “shocked” by Chigvintsev’s current arrest. “He has a cat, what can I say!” Thompson stated. “Or, he had a cat. … I don’t know what occurred.”
Chigvintsev was arrested on home violence fees late final month. Per on-line jail information considered by Us Weekly, he was taken into Napa County, California, police custody on August 29 and was launched hours later after posting $25,000 bail.
Chigvintsev, who wed Garcia in 2022, was arrested on fees underneath part 273.5(a) of the California Penal Code, pertaining to an individual who has injured a partner, cohabitant or fellow mum or dad.
Napa Valley Sheriff PIO Henry Wofford instructed Us that the division spoke with the sufferer, who “requested full confidentiality.”
Garcia, who shares 4-year-old son Matteo with Chigvintsev, has but to interrupt her silence on the incident. A rep for Garcia instructed Us in an announcement, “It is a non-public matter, and Nikki asks for privateness for her and her household at the moment.”
In the event you or somebody are experiencing home violence, please name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assist.