Devin Strader, the most recent winner of “The Bachelorette,” has responded to the recent reveal of a past arrest and restraining order filed by an ex-girlfriend.
“Following my time on The Bachelorette, there have been many stories and misrepresentations put out in the media that I want to take a moment to address,” he began in a statement sent to press on Thursday.
He first apologized for the 13-minute video he shared via Instagram video he posted following the Sept. 3 finale, writing, “I am not proud of that lapse in judgment. I am truly grateful for my time on the show, and for getting the chance to know and love Jenn. I certainly regret hurting her in any way. She is a very special person, and I wish her nothing but good things.”
Strader then discussed the arrest and restraining order, first reported by RealitySteve on Monday. Docs revealed a 2017 affidavit for his arrest after his ex claimed he broke into her home and stole a necklace. In a then-sealed restraining order filing, she claimed he put her in a chokehold — allegations he is now denying.
“Most recently, there have been challenges from a low point in my past that have been brought up and severely misconstrued. The accusations are simply not true as I have never inappropriately laid hands on another individual or treated my ex-girlfriend in any of the ways I have been depicted. That restraining order was never granted, and fully dismissed,” he continued. “My college ex-girlfriend and I ended up reconciling and eventually ended our relationship on good terms. This was the first time I ever fell in love and I learned a lot from our relationship. It was a growing experience for both of us.”
Strader ended the statement with, “I know that I have made mistakes in my life and that I am not perfect, but I have continued to work every day to be someone that my family and friends would be proud of, and I am truly thankful to everyone who has been by my side.”
On Tuesday, ABC and Warner Bros., the production company behind “The Bachelorette,” declined to comment on the show’s vetting process or the reveal of the arrest docs.
A production source told Variety at the time, “We take the safety of our contestants very seriously and make every effort to conduct thorough diligence. As exhaustive as our vetting process is, this protective order did not surface in our searches.”
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