Lea Thompson Recalls Horribly Sexist Remark Made By 'DWTS' Partner Artem Chigvintsev
Lea Thompson says that when her former “Dancing with the Stars ” partner Artem Chigvintsev was arrested last month, she was surprised. But she was also reminded of a “weird” opinion he once shared with her.
“The one really crazy thing that he said to me was — that made me think about [his arrest]… I remember him telling me that men are much better than women,” Thompson recalled a little over an hour into Monday’s episode of Cheryl Burke’s podcast “ Sex, Lies and Spray Tan .”
Thompson was partnered with Chigvintsev in 2014 on Season 19 of the long-running dance competition show.
The “Back to the Future” alum said that when she questioned Chigvintsev about why he thought men were better than women, he replied, “because they’re stronger.”
Thompson remembered rebuffing the comment by pointing out that women give birth, causing Burke to scoff in agreement.
When Burke asked the “Caroline in the City” star what caused Chigvintsev to share this sexist opinion, Thompson was a bit stumped.
“I don’t know, but I just remember being like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe you’re saying that,’” Thompson said. “That was such a weird thing to say. … But I just mostly felt like he was, like, super nervous and couldn’t show it, and so that kind of got, you know, transmitted to me.”
Chigvintsev was arrested in late August in Napa County, California, on suspicion of domestic violence. He was released after posting bail set at $25,000. No victim was identified, and it’s unclear if his wife — WWE alum Nikki Bella , who goes by the name Nikki Garcia professionally — was involved in the incident.
Thompson also told Burke that she figured that Chigvintsev might have changed his opinion about women after he met his future wife, with whom he was