Bachelorette’s Brad Linked to Madison Cawthorn Car Accident
One of Taylor Frankie Paul’s contenders for her anticipated season of The Bachelorette was involved in a car crash in 2014 that left former Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn paralyzed.
Brad Ledford was among the hopefuls on season 22 of The Bachelorette, which was set to debut on Sunday, March 22.
“Lassoing for love! If Taylor is searching for a charming cowboy from California, she’s found her match in Brad,” the 29-year-old’s official ABC biography declared. “His closest companion is his horse, Gus, who assists him with all his cowboy tasks. Outside the ranch, Brad enjoys swing dancing, spending time at the beach, and listening to Adele.”
The bio continued, “This adventurous romantic is ready to build a family and prides himself on being a caring, affectionate partner. We eagerly await to see if he can gallop his way into our Bachelorette’s heart.”
Additionally, Brad’s profession was described as “cowboy/entrepreneur.”
Nearly 12 years prior to his Bachelor Nation experience, Brad was involved in the incident that resulted in Madison, now 30, being confined to a wheelchair. At the time of the crash, Brad and Madison were 17 and 18 respectively, with Brad behind the wheel.
“He was my brother, my best friend, and he [left] me in a car to die in a fiery tomb,” Madison — who exited Congress in January 2023 following his May 2022 Republican primary loss — addressed during a 2017 speech at Patrick Henry College. “He ran to safety deep into the woods and just left me in a burning car as the flames started to lick my legs and burn my left side.”
Brad refuted the claim that he purposely abandoned his friend after the crash.
“It hurt deeply that he would make such a false statement,” Brad told The Washington Post at the time. “That is not at all what transpired. I rescued him from the car the moment I was able to escape.”
Brad and Madison eventually reconciled, with the former reality hopeful attending Madison’s election victory party in 2020.
“We’ve been through so much together,” Brad shared with People in 2021. “I’m still processing it, trying to understand my feelings about that, and determining the best way to address it. Ultimately, I know what he told me, and that holds the most significance. He has apologized several times, and it seems quite sincere.”
Brad’s role on The Bachelorette has since been canceled by ABC amidst ongoing domestic violence allegations against Taylor, 31.
“Taylor expresses her gratitude for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and well-being,” a spokesperson for the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star stated to Us Weekly in a Thursday, March 19 announcement. “After enduring significant mental and physical abuse along with threats of retaliation for years, Taylor is now finding the strength to confront her accuser and is taking necessary measures to protect herself and her children from further harm.”
Taylor was arrested in 2023 following a violent incident with then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, for which she pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received probation. Years later, leaked footage depicted Taylor assaulting Dakota, 33, and hurling chairs at him in the presence of her daughter. (Taylor has three children: Indy, 8, and Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul, and a son, Ever, 2, with Dakota.)
Dakota, who denied any allegations against him, was granted a temporary protective order against Taylor on Friday, March 20, which prohibited any communication between the former couple and awarded him sole custody of Ever until an April court date.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
