DeAnna Pappas, best known for leading Season 4 of the hit reality series “The Bachelorette,” has recently come forward with shocking allegations against her ex-husband, Stephen Stagliano. Pappas has accused Stagliano of physical abuse that left her “shaking with fear” during their marriage, as detailed in her petition for a restraining order following a custody exchange altercation and her recent arrest.
The former couple, who tied the knot in 2011, officially filed for divorce in January 2023. In her petition, Pappas, 43, outlined the alleged issues in their marriage, stating that her 41-year-old ex “has struggled with depression… and has been held under a 5150 hold.” Despite the accusations, she defended Stagliano’s role as a father, emphasizing that his mental health struggles do not diminish his ability to be a good parent.
Pappas and Stagliano share two children, a daughter named Addison Marie, born in February 2014, and a son named Austin Michael, born in March 2016. However, the allegations of physical abuse paint a troubling picture of their relationship. Pappas described one incident in the fall of 2022 where Stagliano allegedly ripped her clothes off and shoved her into a refrigerator, leaving her “shaking with fear.”
Another incident from September 1, 2021, saw Stagliano physically assaulting Pappas in their living room, using his body to pin her against bar stools in a violent confrontation. Pappas also recounted an incident in 2016, while she was pregnant, where Stagliano shoved her while holding their other child, causing her to stumble backward.
The situation escalated further when Pappas was arrested on February 27 after Stagliano accused her of domestic violence. She denied the allegations, which included claims that she punched and slapped him. Pappas claimed that Stagliano demanded she come closer to smell if she had been drinking, but she refused and locked herself inside the house.
Following these events, Pappas filed a restraining order petition, including screenshots of a video her daughter took of the incident, which she believes proves her innocence. A hearing is scheduled for later this month to address the ongoing legal issues between the former couple.
Despite their tumultuous history, Pappas and Stagliano finalized their divorce in June 2024, with an agreement not to drink excessively around their children. The provision states that neither party should consume alcohol in excess of the legal limit during custody periods or have their children in their care while intoxicated. Pappas, who appeared on Season 11 of “The Bachelor” and led Season 4 of “The Bachelorette,” continues to navigate the aftermath of her troubled marriage with Stagliano.
