Nikki Bella ‘heartbroken’ over divorce: ‘It’s been a struggle’
Nikki Garcia (FKA Nikki Bella) opened up about her divorce from Artem Chigvintsev on the latest Nikki & Brie Show episode.
In late August, Chigvintsev was arrested on domestic violence charges at a home the couple formerly shared in Napa Valley. Garcia and Chigvintsev agreed to a divorce settlement last month, sharing custody of their four-year-old son, Matteo. Charges against Chigvintsev were dropped in September.
Garcia returned to the podcast she co-hosts with her sister on Monday’s episode. She told Brie that her absence was due to wanting privacy for her son and needing time to heal.
Nikki said:
“I needed to disconnect because first things first, I’m a mom and my son’s protection and privacy is the most important. So, I was going to do whatever it took for that, most importantly, and then just needing space for healing, for facing trauma head on.”
“It’s been really tough. I’ve been heartbroken, sad. You know, you dream of having this family and you have this incredible love and it just goes the other way. And you go from having a great love story to having a terrible one. I never saw any of it coming as far as what the ending would be. It’s been a struggle.”
“I know being a public figure, I have to say a little bit about this. And after this, I don’t want to ever talk about it again because I truly do want privacy for Matteo, that has been the most important part. But obviously, I’ve had a public relationship, I’m a public figure, so I have to talk about what’s gone on a little bit.”
Nikki also said that she played it up in public as if her relationship with Chigvintsev was stronger than it was. She explained:
“I wanted (Chigvintsev) to be the best version of themselves, because also that’s what my son deserves. I don’t want to drag my son’s dad because I want my son to have the greatest dad ever because that’s what Matteo deserves.”
“I really played it up like things were a lot better than what they were in the public eye, which I have regrets in that because what I felt was if I could just put this person on a pedestal and maybe if this person hears it enough what I believe in them, they can believe that in themselves.”
Brie asked if Nikki was trying to show her fans that she had a “fairytale relationship.”
“That, yes, and I didn’t want to have another failed public relationship,” Nikki responded. “And more than any of that, I wanted it for Matteo. It always comes back to him. You fight for your kids, you want to stick together because that’s what the kids want. And I tried really hard.”
Brie also mentioned during the podcast that she advised Nikki to end the relationship multiple times before Chigvintsev’s arrest in August.
The couple shares custody of Matteo, and Nikki is learning to deal with her son leaving to spend time with his father.
“I never thought I would be in this place as a co-parent. It’s tough. I miss Matteo, oh my goodness. Those first few times in my house, just think, I’ve never been in the home without him. Really, really hard. Very emotional. Even yesterday. I cry every time he leaves.”
“So, that’s been hard but we’re doing a great job at it. We’re both very focused on Matteo and that’s the great thing. And I do think in time – I pray, I pray everyday we’ll be great friends, we’ll be able to share holidays together. I don’t think that’ll happen anytime soon but I pray for it because again, that’s what Matteo deserves.”
The full podcast is available below: