‘Bachelorette’ contestant tied to former US Rep. Madison Cawthorn of NC: Report
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- Brad Ledford, a contestant on “The Bachelorette,” has been tied to a 2014 crash.
- He has been the subject of lawsuits from former U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn of NC.
- The new season of “The Bachelorette” premieres March 22 on ABC and Hulu.
A contestant on ABC’s “The Bachelorette” was in a car crash that left a former U.S. congressman from North Carolina partially paralyzed, news outlets report.
Brad Ledford is set to compete on the popular reality TV show more than a decade after he was driving a car that careened into a concrete barricade and burst into flames. The crash injured his passenger Madison Cawthorn, who later became a U.S. representative in Western North Carolina, The News & Observer previously reported.
Here’s what we know about Ledford and his season of “The Bachelorette,” which is set to air March 22.
Who is Brad on ‘The Bachelorette?’
Ledford is described as an entrepreneur and a “California cowboy.” He’s looking forward to becoming a licensed pilot and enjoys spending time with his horse, Gus, according to the show’s website and Today.
“When he’s not on the ranch, Brad enjoys swing dancing, hanging at the beach, and listening to Adele,” the show wrote. “This fearless romantic is ready to start a family and prides himself on being a generous, loving partner.”
Over the years, Ledford has been the subject of lawsuits from Cawthorn. The two friends were traveling through Florida at the time of the crash in 2014, The U.S. Sun reported.
Cawthorn, who uses a wheelchair after the crash, said he was left at the scene to die. But Ledford has disputed that claim, saying he pulled his friend from the burning car, People reported in 2021.
Cawthorn served in Congress, representing North Carolina’s 11th district for one term from 2021 to 2023. Last year, he announced his plans to run for a congressional seat in Florida.
How to watch ‘The Bachelorette’
On season 22 of “The Bachelorette,” nearly two dozen men will compete for the chance to win the heart of Taylor Frankie Paul. She is a social media influencer who starred on the Hulu reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
The new season of “The Bachelorette” is set to premiere Sunday, March 22. Fans can watch new episodes on ABC or stream them on Hulu, according to the show’s website.
A production company believed to be working on “The Bachelorette” didn’t immediately share additional details with The News & Observer when contacted on Feb. 27.
This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 11:43 AM with the headline "‘Bachelorette’ contestant tied to former US Rep. Madison Cawthorn of NC: Report."
