Fact Check: Was '90 Day Fiancé' Star Varya Malina Arrested?
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Rumors are circulating online that Vavara 'Varya' Malina has been arrested.
Malina appeared on Season 4 of TLC's 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, which aired in 2020. She was featured alongside a man called Geoffrey Paschel, who is from Tennessee. Malina eventually relocated to the U.S. to be with Paschel.
In 2022, Paschel was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he was convicted of kidnapping and assaulting his ex-fiancée.
Paschel also had a criminal history, which included convictions of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance, in addition to two federal drug trafficking charges, according to a report from People. In 2020, fans called for him to be removed from the show due to the allegations against him, and over 5,000 people signed a petition to remove him from the show.
Though Paschel is incarcerated, Malina has maintained her relationship with him, and four months ago, she shared a vlog on YouTube in which she speaks about Geoffrey's life in prison. In a November 2023 Instagram post, she wrote, "As many of you know, my man is currently serving time in prison. Instead of letting this situation hold me back, I've chosen to take a different path. I've decided to travel more, explore new horizons, and let the world be my guide."
Malina regularly shares content on her Instagram, with recent posts showing her traveling and spending time with her family.
Newsweek has contacted Malina for comment via social media.
The Claim
Reports claim that Malina was arrested in Tennessee for theft. The details in these reports vary, with multiple claiming that she was arrested in Blount County, Tennessee, before being transferred to the Knox County Jail.
It is unclear where the claims originated from. There have been multiple reports with conflicting details from unverified sources online and on social media.
The Facts
The reports are false.
Newsweek has not found an arrest record for Vavara 'Varya' Malina.
Newsweek has searched the Knox County Sheriff Inmate Population for the names Varya Malina and Vavara Malina. This search yielded no results.
Newsweek contacted the Knox County Sheriff's Office by phone, which transferred Newsweek through to the Rodger D. Wilson Detention Facility. A person at that facility told Newsweek that they did not have anyone by the name of Varya Malina.
Newsweek has also searched for the names Varya Malina and Vavara Malina in a public records request archive for Blount County, Tennessee. This search yielded no results. Newsweek has contacted authorities in Blount County for further confirmation.
There are mug shot images circulating online of Malina, but there is no evidence that these are credible.
The Ruling
False.
These reports are false. There are no publicly available arrest records for Vavara 'Varya' Malina in Knox County, and the Rodger D. Wilson Detention Facility said they do not have anyone by her name. The claims have come from sources which are not reputable and have not been reported on by reputable news outlets.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team
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