Former WWE star Nikki Garcia (also known as Nikki Bella) is raising eyebrows with her new romance. Garcia has reportedly been casually dating Philadelphia Eagles player Cooper DeJean. The pair’s 20-year age difference has the internet talking.
Nikki Garcia Is Reportedly Dating Cooper DeJean
TMZ recently reported that Garcia and DeJean have been hanging out and going on dates, but it doesn’t appear to be serious, as Garcia is apparently still single. A source stressed that Garcia is currently more focused on her career and motherhood than romance.
Rumors that the pair were dating began last month when Garcia was spotted attending Eagles games wearing DeJean’s jersey. She even posted a clip of herself strutting into the stadium on Instagram, showing off DeJean’s name and number, 33, on her back.
Garcia and DeJean have a 20-year age difference, as she is 42 while he’s 22. Fans on Reddit had a lot to say about the pair’s age gap, with one user writing, “It would be weird if it was a 42-year-old dude dating a 22-year-old. It’s weird when a 42-year-old woman does the same thing.”
“Ehh. Her kid is closer in age to him than she is,” wrote another user, referring to Garcia’s 5-year-old son Matteo, whom she shares with ex-husband Artem Chigvintsev. “That’s weird. And yes, I judge both men and women who date vastly out of their age range.”
SEE ALSO: NIKKI GARCIA FILES FOR DIVORCE FROM ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV
Garcia Was Previously Married to Artem Chigvintsev
Garcia was previously married to former Dancing with the Stars pro Artem Chigvintsev. The couple met in 2017 when they were paired up on the ballroom dancing competition. After Garcia called off her engagement to John Cena in 2018, she and Chigvintsev sparked dating rumors.
The couple got engaged in 2019, and Garcia gave birth to their son Matteo the following year. They eventually tied the knot in 2022. Two years later, in August 2024, Chigvintsev was arrested for domestic violence following an incident at the couple’s home in Napa Valley, California.
Although the charges against Chigvintsev were ultimately dropped, Garcia filed for divorce around two weeks after his arrest. The former couple reached a settlement in November 2024.
