Winner of “Bachelorette” was arrested and received a restraining order from ex

Before joining the cast of ABC’s The Bachelorette – and eventually won the final rose and was briefly cast as Jenn Tran’s lead – Devin Strader was arrested and a restraining order was obtained against him.

RealityStevewhich reports spoilers and news on the Bachelor franchise, was the first to report the news, releasing an affidavit allegedly from Strader's arrest warrant for a crime of “simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling” seven years before the show's final season. At the time, Strader was arrested on charges that he robbed an ex-girlfriend's home in Louisiana. His ex-girlfriend had also obtained a restraining order against him at the time.

In the Baton Rouge Police Department affidavit filed in 2017 by the unnamed ex-girlfriend, the woman claimed that after a trip out of town, she returned to find her home had been robbed and many of her personal belongings were broken and/or scattered on the floor. The diamond necklace Strader had given her during their relationship was missing. According to the woman, she and Strader lived two houses away from each other.

The woman also claimed that Strader came to her home several times, “banging on the door multiple times and yelling at her,” which eventually led her to seek a restraining order against him.

She also claimed that Strader “started a fire in the street, apparently with a restraining order” and when she “had a flat tire on her car and it was changed, [Strader] came out and started laughing at her.”

The ex-girlfriend mentioned in the now unsealed petition, which was received by THRShe claimed that Strader once “gagged my mouth” and “spit on me and poured his drink on me” [a] Pelicans game in front of everyone.” And after waking up with bruises on her “knees, elbows, stomach, arms” and a “throbbing” head, she claims he said he almost “killed” her and “didn’t want to talk about it.”

In addition to the “physical abuse,” she claimed that Strader “verbally and psychologically abused her.” “He humiliated me and took everything from me. My confidence, my self-esteem, and I hope no other girl ever has to go through what I went through.”

After Strader’s arrest for burglary, Weekly entertainment reported that Strader pleaded guilty to trespassing and property damage under $500. He also received one year of unsupervised probation.

The news of Strader's background again raises questions surrounding ABC's background screening process for casting the show, as this isn't the first time a casting controversy has overshadowed a season. After one of Bachelorette Becca Kufrin's contestants was cast on season 14 despite a pending sexual assault case, ABC executives said the team discovered a loophole in the background process that they have since been able to close and are using starting in 2019.

What was public during Strader's review process was the affidavit of arrest for burglary. However, the details in the restraining order were sealed when Bachelorette Producers conducted their background checks, a production source says THR. Strader was presumably questioned about the secret details; it is not known when the details were revealed or what Strader told producers at the time.

“We take the safety of our participants very seriously and make every effort to conduct it with the utmost care,” says a source close to the show. THR“Despite our extensive review, our research found no evidence of this protective order.”

Still, the reality show's selection process still involves navigating social media as viewers get to know and root for the contestants. Just yesterday, ABC's Facebook page posted the possible lineup of Grant Ellis' upcoming contestants. The early reveal gives the show time to gather feedback before announcing the final list. Ellis will be the franchise's second black Bachelor when he leads the 2025 season.

During the season finale on September 3rd of The BacheloretteTran proposed to Strader. However, the season ended with a dramatic heartbreak when Tran After the last rose Special that shortly after she proposed to him in the pre-taped finale, he didn't seem to be the person she had decided she wanted in the end. He broke off their engagement via phone call, she said when she angrily and tearfully confronted him on the live TV stage earlier this month.

Strader recently posted a 13-minute video on Instagram revealing private text messages between himself and Tran to defend himself and the relationship history portrayed. The video has since been deleted.

Shortly after the finale, it was announced that Tran would be appearing in the new season of Dancing with the stars, which premieres on Tuesday evening.

17 September, 15:36 Updated with details from the unsealed petition.