Bachelorette alum DeAnna Pappas’ broke her silence on her bitter court battle with ex-husband Stephen Stagliano after a judge granted her plea over custody, Us Weekly can exclusively report.
According to court documents obtained by Us, Pappas, 43, and Stagliano, 41, faced off in court on June 25 for a hearing on her plea to reinstate their previous custody agreement.
After hearing from both sides, the judge ordered that the exes will return to their previous custody/visitation schedule “until further order of the court,” which is what Pappas was seeking.
The court said Pappas will have to undergo “Soberlink testing before each visit and the testing shall be programmed random testing.”
The judge told Pappas and Stagliano to defer to Soberlink when it comes to the test results.
The court also ordered the exes to exchange financial information after Stagliano asked for his support obligation to be reduced.
In her first statement since the judge’s decision, Pappas tells Us, “The last few years — especially the past few months — have been some of the most challenging of my life. Throughout it all, I’ve remained committed to prioritizing my physical and mental health so I can be the best version of myself for my two children. I’m deeply grateful to the judge who took the time to truly listen and understand our situation.”
She added, “This decision brings peace, hope, and most importantly, the chance to continue being present in my children’s lives — where I belong. I am thankful for a fair and just process rooted in the facts, for my legal team, and for everyone who stood by me during this journey. Love wins and I’m moving forward with hope and strength for all that the Lord has in store for me. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”
Stagliano tells Us, “I’m grateful the court restored joint custody and placed healthy boundaries in place. I trust God is working through this season. My focus remains on being an Intentional Father, and I continue to pray for healing and restoration for our family.”
Pappas and Stagliano wed in 2011 and split in 2023. They worked out a divorce deal in June 2023, where they agreed to share custody of their two minor children. Stagliano was ordered to pay $1,000 per month in child support and another $1,500 in spousal support.
Recently, Pappas admitted she violated a provision in their custody deal by drinking around the kids on April 3. She claimed Stagliano was refusing to allow her regular access with their kids after the incident.
“He has made inconsistent offers agreeing to visits and then canceling at the last minute,” Pappas alleged.
She said she started “recovery” and had been sober for over 62 days at the time of her filing in early June. Pappas told the court she had taken all alcohol tests as required.
As Us first reported, Stagliano asked the court to deny Pappas’ emergency motion. He said that he was supportive of her “early recovery” work but said it was not proof of “sustained sobriety.”
Pappas previously denied she had issues with drinking.
As Us first reported, Pappas and Stagliano’s drama erupted on February 27 when she was arrested during a custody exchange at her home. They both accused the other of being in the wrong but police arrested Pappas.
She was released hours later. No charges were ever brought over the incident.
In recent court documents, Pappas accused Stagliano of owing her $23,000 in back support.
She told the court that her ex has “never paid child support since he agreed to do so. At this point, [Stagliano] is $23,000 behind on child support payments, so his request to modify this makes sense.”
“[Stagliano] has never paid for a haircut or clothing for the children,” she said. She also accused him of failing to take a drug test as required by their custody deal.
Pappas, who earns over $16,000 a month as a flight attendant, called him out for being “voluntarily” unemployed.
In response, Stagliano said he had been applying to jobs after losing his job at a gaming company but had not been successful.
He said he was going to start driving Uber to generate money.
The exes will appear in court in October to provide the court with an update and to go over the plea to modify support.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
