As a gamer who’s spent countless hours navigating virtual worlds, I find it disheartening to see real-life characters stumble in their journeys. The story of Devin Strader, a former contestant on ABC’s The Bachelorette, is one that raises questions about the vetting process and the complexities of reality TV.
Before becoming a contestant on ABC’s The Bachelorette, eventually winning the final rose and proposing (albeit briefly) to Jenn Tran, Devin Strader was apprehended and a restraining order was issued against him.
The Bachelor franchise news reporter known as RealitySteve was the first to break the news, sharing what appears to be an affidavit from Strader’s arrest warrant regarding a felony count of “simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling” that dates back seven years prior to the show’s most recent season. During this time, Strader was taken into custody due to allegations that he had broken into his ex-girlfriend’s house in Louisiana. It is important to note that at the time of the incident, Strader’s ex-girlfriend also had a restraining order against him.
In an affidavit submitted by the Baton Rouge Police Department in 2017, an anonymous ex-girlfriend claimed that upon returning home following a trip, she discovered her house had been broken into, with a diamond necklace Strader had given her during their relationship missing. The woman stated that she and Strader resided just two houses apart at the time.
Besides her initial claim, she further asserted that Strader repeatedly showed up at her residence, pounding on the door forcefully and yelling at her. This persistent behavior ultimately prompted her to seek a restraining order against him.
Additionally, she claimed that Strader “created a blaze in the roadway, seemingly using the genuine restraining order,” and on another occasion, “she had a tire deflated in her car while it was being replaced, and during this incident, [Strader] stepped outside and started laughing at her.
Following Strader’s apprehension for burglary, Entertainment Weekly detailed that Strader admitted guilt to offenses including unlawful entry and minor property vandalism worth under $500. Additionally, he was granted a year of unmonitored probation.
The recent revelations about Strader’s past have sparked renewed questions about ABC’s casting process for their shows, as this is not the first time controversy has arisen over casting choices. For instance, during Becca Kufrin’s season 14 of ‘The Bachelorette’, a contestant was chosen despite an ongoing sexual assault case. However, Rob Mills, ABC’s reality chief, stated that they found a loophole in their background checks which they have since fixed, and this improvement has been implemented since 2019.
During Strader’s vetting for the show, an affidavit related to a burglary arrest was made public. However, information in the restraining order remained confidential during the background checks conducted by Bachelorette producers. A source from the production has shared this with THR. It is assumed that Strader would have been questioned about the sealed details; it remains unknown when or if these details were later disclosed to producers, or what Strader may have said at the time.
Regarding the safety of our participants, we put great emphasis and go to great lengths to ensure thorough background checks,” a reliable source from the show explained to THR. “Despite our extensive research, the restraining order was not found during our investigations.
Navigating the social media landscape during the casting process for reality shows has proven to be a complex task, as viewers become familiar with and seek out contestants. For instance, ABC’s Facebook page recently unveiled potential contestants for Grant Ellis’ upcoming season. This early disclosure allows the show to collect feedback before making the final decisions. It is noteworthy that Ellis will be the second Black lead in the Bachelor franchise when he takes over in 2025.
In the season finale of The Bachelorette that aired on September 3rd, I was thrilled to see Tran pop the question to Strader. But, the season took a heart-wrenching turn during the ‘After the Final Rose’ special, when Tran disclosed that the man she had chosen at the end wasn’t the same person as the one who proposed on the pre-recorded finale. She shared that he called off their engagement over the phone, a revelation made during an emotional confrontation on the live TV stage just last month.
More recently, Strader posted a 13-minute video on Instagram detailing personal text conversations with Tran. He did this to clarify his side of things and the sequence of their relationship. However, that video is no longer available for viewing.
Following the final episode, news broke out that Tran will participate in the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars”, airing on Tuesday evening.
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2024-09-18 00:24