‘It Was Hard Working With Him’: Lea Thompson Opens About Her Experience With DWTS Dance Partner Artem Chigvintsev

As a lifestyle expert with years of experience under my belt, I find it intriguing to delve into the dynamic between celebrities and their partners, particularly when it comes to dance competitions like Dancing With The Stars. Lea Thompson’s candid conversation about her partner, Artem Chigvintsev, on iHeart’s Sex, Lies and Spray Tans podcast was a fascinating insight into the pressures and tensions that these high-profile partnerships can face.


63-year-old Lea Thompson spoke frankly about her “Dancing with the Stars” partner, Artem Chigvintsev. During a casual chat, the actress and vocalist described him as an “intensely focused” dance partner in the competitive series.

In the September 8 episode of iHeart’s Sex, Lies and Spray Tans podcast, the Red Dawn star shared with Cheryl Burke that working with their partner was challenging because it was their first year and it held significant importance for them. Burke noted that her partner was intense and over time, this intensity made her feel tense and even a bit “crazy.

On the podcast, the two speakers discussed both the television show and the recent arrest of the professional dancer. For your information, Chigvintsev was taken into custody under Section 273.5(a) of the California penal code, which prohibits causing domestic violence against a cohabitant, spouse, or fellow parent. According to Deadline, this alleged act of violence took place on August 29th.

Eventually, he was released on a $25,000 bond, as no victim had been found, although injuries were reported in connection with the case. The dancer got married to Nikki Bella, though it remains unclear whether she played any role in this incident.

In the podcast, Thompson shared his experience by saying, “Certain phrases he used towards me, given my background as a Russian ballet dancer with demanding Russian dance instructors, became particularly challenging.

She mentioned that she was never allowed to propose a new approach, as he would become upset with her. The actress went on to say that he was unyielding and it was challenging for her. The production of the show was tense due to last-minute changes, which only increased her anxiety. They also talked about how this situation caused the actress to lose weight during that particular season.

In simpler terms, during the podcast, the host noticed that it seemed unfair when the actress told the host to speak to her in a different manner, yet the conversation between Chigvintsev and her wasn’t depicted on the show.

In retrospect, Thomson admitted that the strained connection between them largely stemmed from his inability to articulate his anxiety, which seemingly affected her as well. The initial blissful stage of their interaction on the show faded by the fourth week. Since then, they have not maintained contact and she noticed he no longer followed her on social media.

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2024-09-10 12:07