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 Mondays episode of Cheryl Burkes 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 theyre 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 dont know, but I just remember being like, Oh my god, I cant believe youre saying that, Thompson said. That was such a weird thing to say. But I just mostly felt like he was, like, super nervous and couldnt 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 its 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 partnered on Season 25 of DWTS in 2017.

The actor recalled watching a dance the two did together on the show in which Garcia flipped him over and threw him on the ground you know, she did a wrestling move youre letting her show that shes as strong as you! So, I thought that was kind of cool.

Elsewhere in the episode, the Switched at Birth star did make several comments about Chigvintsev being intense to work with.

It was hard working with him because he was... it was his first year, and it was a big deal to him, Thompson said 47 minutes into the episode. He was so intense. It was so much more important to him than to me, honestly. 

Although Thompson chalks up some of his ferocity to what she describes as the Hunger Games-like vibes on the set of DWTS, she also attributed some of his attitude towards his upbringing and dance training. 

Some of the things he would say to me were like, just being Russian and being a ballet dancer and having Russian dance teachers who were always very difficult it just got to be really hard, Thompson said. She explained that she was a ballet dancer and a modern dancer herself, but said their dance backgrounds did not mesh.

Yet Thompson told Burke that she was surprised by Chigvintsevs arrest, saying he did seem like a sweet guy despite his intensity.

Burke who has been a professional dancer on DTWS on and off for years also expressed shock by Chigvintsevs arrest on an Aug. 30 episode of her podcast.

We used to live together in my familys home in the Bay Area. Its so shocking. I get kind of emotional. My heart goes out to everyone involved, she said, per People . 

Its just really hard for me because he was hes my family, Burke added at the time. I dont know what to say here other than I hope everybodys okay.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline .