'Dancing With the Stars' 2016: Mischa Barton & Artem Chigvintsev Have A Connection Away From Ballroom? [VIDEO]
Mischa Barton and Artem Chigvintsev may have been eliminated from Dancing With the Stars, but apparently they're still in touch!
Barton and Chigvintsev were eliminated second from this season of Dancing With the Stars, but they have maintained a friendship in the weeks following.
There was even an Entertainment Tonight report that they may be dating, but a rep for Chigvtinsev revealed that they are just friends.
"Mischa and Artem are not dating. The experience of Dancing with the Stars has a tendency to really bond partners and pros," the rep said. "They have remained friends since the show."
A source had previously told the publication that they were "transitioning into more than friends" after the show.
"They've been in touch after the show and care about each other but this is the first proper date," the source said, after the pair was spotted dining together at Los Angeles restaurant The Little Door. "He is the reason she's looking happier recently. She has become giddy when talking about him and quite smitten with him."
Additionally, the source said, "He's pursued her for a while, and she's coming around."
Even if they aren't dating, some Dancing With the Stars fans may be surprised to see that the pair has kept in touch at all. They had a somewhat contentious relationship while competing on the show, with Chigvintsev frequently frustrated by Barton's negativity and inability to fully believe in her own capabilities.
The couple received some of the lowest scores of the competition during their brief stint. They received a 16 out of 30 in Week 1 and a 15 out of 30 in Week 2. Luckily they went out with their best score yet, an 18 out of 30 in Week 3.
Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
