DeAnna Pappas, who starred as the “Bachelorette” on Season 4 of the hit ABC show, was recently arrested following an altercation with her ex-husband, Stephen Stagliano, The Post can confirm.
Pappas, 43, was booked on a misdemeanor charge in Santa Clarita, Calif., on Feb. 27 and posted a $20,000 bond the same day. InTouch was the first to report the story.
The former reality star is now seeking a restraining order against her Stagliano, 40, according to the outlet.
The argument between Pappas and her ex, who finalized their divorce after 11 years of marriage in January 2024, reportedly stemmed from accusations over her drinking.
The news of Pappas’ arrest came to light after Lynn Stagliano, alleged to be Stephen’s mother, mentioned the incident in a declaration filed on March 7 in the couple’s divorce, according to InTouch.
In her filing, Lynn claimed that she “very clearly smelled alcohol on DeAnna’s breath” when she went to pick up Pappas and Stagliano’s son on February 26.
The pair share two children: daughter Addison, 11, and son Austin, 9.
In response to an ex parte application filed by Stagliano, which isn’t present in the court record, Pappas argued, “The basis of [Stephen’s] claim is his false assertion that I am an alcoholic. This is entirely fabricated and is a tactic for [Stephen] to gain an advantage in his attempt to separate me from my children.”
The exes had previously agreed to share joint custody of their children.
Pappas further accused her ex-husband of having a history of “coaching our daughter to search for alcohol in the house.”
She alleged that Stephen had taught their daughter to “literally sniff out alcohol and to turn her against me by making her think I am an alcoholic.”
“I am not an alcoholic,” DeAnna stated.
On March 7, DeAnna filed for a restraining order against her ex-husband.
She claimed that on February 26, Stagliano came to her home to pick up Addison and said she accompanied their daughter to his car when he arrived.
“Stephen told me I needed to walk closer to him because he wanted to smell my breath to make sure that I was not drunk,” Pappas stated. “I had not consumed any alcohol. I ignored Stephen’s comment, and I walked back into the garage.”
“I heard noise behind me. I turned around to see Stephen following me into my garage. [Our daughter] had been left alone sitting in his car with the engine running. I tried to shut my garage door. Stephen pushed my garage door upward so that it would not close. I shouted at Stephen to get out of my garage. Stephen refused to leave,” Pappas added.
The ex-reality star claimed she went inside and locked the door, but after hearing more noise in the garage, she returned outside.
“Stephen took his hands, grabbing me, and then forcefully shoved me. He pushed my back again. In fear that he would hurt me, I immediately went back inside the house and locked the door while I waited for the police to arrive,” Pappas wrote.
She alleged Stagliano called the police, who arrived around midnight. She also claimed the officers told her that her ex had accused her of being drunk and was pressing charges for domestic violence.
“Stephen had told the Sheriff that I was the aggressor who assaulted him, which was false,” she said.
“At no point was I asked to take an alcohol test, despite Stephen’s allegations,” she continued. “In fact, the officer who arrested me showed no concern about my being intoxicated whatsoever.”
The Post has reached out to law enforcement and Pappas’ reps for comment.
This is developing story.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
