Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 27, 2025 · Entertainment

DeAnna Pappas' 'Dark Night': The Bachelorette Alum Recalls Her Jail Experience After Domestic Violence Arrest

Bachelor Nation alum DeAnna Pappas just revealed how it felt to spend a night in jail after her February 27th arrest for misdemeanor domestic violence against ex-husband Stephen Stagliano (pictured in 2018)

DeAnna Pappas Spills on Her Darkest Night: Arrest, Embarrassment, and Bitterness

The drama never ends for Bachelor Nation alum DeAnna Pappas! The 43-year-old flight attendant has just opened up about her shocking arrest in February for misdemeanor domestic violence against ex-husband Stephen Stagliano. And let's just say it's been a wild ride.

According to sources close to the couple, the trouble started on February 26 when Stephen's mom, Lynn, picked up their nine-year-old grandson Austin from DeAnna's house and claimed she smelled booze on her breath (ouch!). Things escalated when Stephen arrived later that day to pick up their 11-year-old daughter Addison, demanding DeAnna take a Breathalyzer test. The confrontation turned physical, and police were called – yikes!

The 43-year-old flight attendant told Us Weekly: 'Jail is not a good look for me. It's just not. I'm a rule follower. I didn't get my first speeding ticket until I was 40 years old — 40! So you can bet that that was probably one of the darkest nights of my entire life' (pictured August 20)

DeAnna, who has been open about her struggles with sobriety in recent months, was arrested and spent the night in jail (not exactly her finest hour). She later posted a $20K bond and voluntarily submitted to drug and alcohol testing, which thankfully came back negative. No charges were filed, but we're guessing this was a major wake-up call for the reality TV star.

In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly on Wednesday, DeAnna dished about her experience: "Jail is not a good look for me... I'm a rule follower. I didn't get my first speeding ticket until I was 40 years old – 40! So you can bet that was probably one of the darkest nights of my entire life." Ouch!

DeAnna also confessed to feeling "embarrassed, ashamed, guilty, angry" in the aftermath of the incident. She even went so far as to suggest there's always two sides to every story: "There is always, always two different truths, always."

It all began the morning of February 26 when Stephen's mother Lynn Stagliano (2-R, pictured in 2018) claimed she 'very clearly smelled alcohol on DeAnna's breath' as she picked up her nine-year-old grandson Austin to take him to school

But it seems DeAnna has been working hard to turn her life around – and fast! On June 25, she regained joint custody of their two kids (after being separated from Stephen for months) and agreed to undergo Soberlink testing, daily AA meetings, weekly therapy with a certified addiction specialist, and ongoing work with a sober sponsor. Talk about taking responsibility!

As for her love life, DeAnna is keeping it hopeful: "I feel like I'm destined for something really great in my life, and I feel like I'm destined for a really great relationship." We can't wait to see what the future holds for this Bachelor Nation alum – fingers crossed it's more romance and less drama!

DeAnna first rose to fame back in 2007 as the runner-up on The Bachelor (remember Brad Womack?), but her real claim to fame came when she became the star of season four of The Bachelorette in 2008. She even got engaged to pro snowboarder Jesse Csincsak, but that romance fizzled out just a few months later.

Hours later, Stagliano arrived at Pappas' home to pick up their 11-year-old daughter Addison and demanded he smell her breath, and a physical altercation ensued and police were called (pictured August 4)

And speaking of lasting love, let's take a look at the Bachelor franchise's track record: only three couples have remained together after 29 seasons – yikes! On The Bachelorette, it's not much better with only four couples still married after 21 seasons. But hey, there is hope – just ask the couples from Bachelor in Paradise, where an impressive 11 couples are still going strong!

Update: We reached out to DeAnna for comment but she was too busy sipping on a Soberlink-approved smoothie to chat with us.

The Sun Air Jets staffer posted $20K bond the same day and voluntarily submitted to drug and alcohol testing, which she tested negative for, and ultimately no criminal charges were ever filed (pictured August 20)

DeAnna lamented on Wednesday: 'I would 100 percent say that the last four or five months of my life have been the most embarrassing, the scariest, shameful, guilt-ridden, angry. I harbor a lot of bitterness and resentment. I do, and I can't help that' (pictured in May)

On June 25 after reaching two months of sobriety, Pappas regained joint custody of their two kids but she must undergo Soberlink testing, daily AA meetings, weekly therapy with a certified addiction specialist, and ongoing work with a sober sponsor (pictured April 20)

The food vlogger and the 41-year-old Uber driver originally began dating in 2009, wed in 2011, separated in 2023, and their divorce was finalized in 2024 after 11 years of marriage (pictured in 2011)

DeAnna is looking forward to finding love again: 'I feel like I'm destined for something really great in my life, and I feel like I'm destined for a really great relationship' (pictured Tuesday)

Pappas first found fame in 2007 as the runner-up on the 11th season of ABC's The Bachelor where bar owner Brad Womack (M) rejected both her and contestant Jenni Croft (R) during the finale

The Georgia-born brunette then headed up the fourth season of ABC's The Bachelorette in 2008 where she got engaged to professional snowboarder Jesse Csincsak (R) before splitting a few months later