Melissa Rycroft Strickland, who appeared on the 13th season of “The Bachelor” with Jason Mesnick, has broken her silence on her arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
On Monday, October 6, Strickland replied to a comment on her Instagram post in which a fan shared that they have made the “same mistake over two years ago because of a perfect storm of bad life events.
“There’s no excuse, but it happened,” the person continued. “Don’t ever forget that you are beautiful, loved and blessed.”
This message clearly meant a lot to Strickland, who responded.
“Thank you,” she wrote. “Life really sucks right now and I’m struggling, but I’m trying to march forward….but thank you for the sweet words in what seems like a world of negativity….”
Rycroft was arrested on September 23 in Southlake, Texas, with the Southlake Police Department detailing in a press release (via PEOPLE) that “they reported to a single-vehicle crash around 12:05 p.m. and found ‘a black Cadillac Escalade that had struck a tree.'”
“Prior to the crash, witnesses reportedly observed the Escalade driving erratically,” the statement noted. “No other vehicles were involved, and no injuries were reported. The case remains under investigation.”
Melissa Rycroft Strickland’s Lawyer Releases Statement After Her Arrest
Following the incident, Strickland’s lawyer, Bret Martin, released a statement to PEOPLE.
“I want to remind the public of the fundamental principle of our justice system…every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We, as a society, have gotten completely away from this fundamental concept. My Client was arrested on the allegation of Driving While Intoxicated. An arrest is no indication of guilt,” Martin said.
“It is imperative that we closely examine the circumstances of this case – including the conduct of law enforcement, the toxicology results, and the facts surrounding her arrest – before any conclusions are drawn,” he continued. “We respectfully request that the media and the public allow the legal process to unfold, and withhold any judgment whatsoever until all of the evidence has been properly analyzed and presented in a court of law.”
Who Is Melissa Rycroft Strickland?
Strickland is a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, who went on to appear on Jason Mesnick’s season of “The Bachelor” and ultimately won, with Mesnick proposing in the finale. However, the couple broke up on live television after Mesnick admitted he still had feelings for runner-up Molly Mesnick.
Strickland went on to appear on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2009 and then again in 2012 for the all-star season, in which she won.
She married Tye Strickland in 2009, and the two share three children.
