DeAnna Pappas Drops Restraining Order Against Ex-Husband After Emotional Custody Clash.
Former Bachelorette star DeAnna Pappas is stepping back from legal action against her ex-husband, Stephen Stagliano, following a heated altercation that ended with her in handcuffs — and him under serious scrutiny.
In a quiet courtroom move on Thursday, March 27, DeAnna’s attorney informed the judge that she and Stephen had reached an agreement. The restraining order she'd filed just weeks earlier? No longer needed, they said. The judge dismissed the case shortly after.
But this isn’t just another celebrity breakup tale. The road to that decision has been anything but smooth.
A Custody Exchange Gone Wrong
The situation escalated during what should have been a routine custody handoff at DeAnna’s home on February 27. According to court documents, DeAnna claimed Stephen became confrontational, demanding to smell her breath to check if she’d been drinking. She insisted she hadn’t.
Things allegedly turned physical when she refused to get close to him. DeAnna said she tried to retreat into the house, but Stephen blocked her garage door. When she returned to investigate a strange noise, she claimed he shoved her — twice. “In fear that he would hurt me,” she told the court, “I immediately went back inside and locked the door while I waited for the police.”
She wasn’t the only witness. DeAnna said their daughter captured the encounter on video, and she submitted screenshots as part of her restraining order request.
From Accuser to Arrestee
But when the police arrived, it wasn’t Stephen who was taken in. DeAnna was arrested and charged with misdemeanor domestic violence after Stephen accused her of attacking him — allegations she has strongly denied.
In a statement to the court, she described his claims — that she punched, slapped, and grabbed him by the neck — as “unequivocally untrue.” After her release on a $20,000 bond, she voluntarily submitted to drug and alcohol testing. She said the results came back clean.
Within days, DeAnna filed for a temporary restraining order, hoping to put legal distance between herself and her ex.
A Complicated History
DeAnna and Stephen were married for over a decade before calling it quits in early 2023. The couple, who share two children, finalized their divorce last year. The court-approved agreement included standard clauses about responsible alcohol use — neither parent is allowed to be intoxicated around the kids.
As part of the settlement, Stephen pays DeAnna $1,000 a month in child support and $1,500 in spousal support. While DeAnna originally pushed for primary custody, they eventually agreed to share physical custody of their children.
So… Why Did She Drop the Order?
It’s not entirely clear what changed between DeAnna’s initial filing and the March 27 hearing. Her legal team said only that the two had come to a “stipulation,” and that the restraining order was no longer necessary.
Stephen didn’t respond to the petition before it was dismissed. For now, it seems the former couple is opting to keep things out of court — and, hopefully, out of headlines.
What’s Next for DeAnna?
After appearing on Season 11 of The Bachelor and starring on Season 4 of The Bachelorette, DeAnna’s love life played out on national TV. But this latest chapter has been more painful than glamorous.
She hasn’t publicly commented since the arrest, and it's unclear whether the video allegedly filmed by their daughter will ever be released or submitted in another proceeding. For now, it appears both DeAnna and Stephen are trying to move forward, each in their own way.
🎤 Related Questions (People Also Ask)
Was DeAnna Pappas arrested?
Yes. She was arrested on February 27 after an incident with her ex-husband during a custody exchange.
Did DeAnna Pappas file for a restraining order?
She did, shortly after her arrest. However, she later dropped the request following an agreement with her ex.
What happened between DeAnna and Stephen Stagliano?
The two were involved in a heated confrontation that allegedly turned physical. Both parties accused each other of misconduct.
Do they share custody of their kids?
Yes. Their divorce settlement includes shared custody and guidelines around alcohol use while parenting.
