A viral story alleging that former 90 Day Fiancé star Varya Malina was arrested in Tennessee for felony theft might not be true. The rumors, which spread rapidly on social media, claimed Malina was taken into custody on July 9 on an outstanding warrant and had her mugshot circulated online.
The Original Reports
The original reports, echoed by multiple tabloids, detailed serious allegations. Shabooty seemed to be the first to report the arrest on social media, after which a lot of intense online discussion started among TLC fans.
The online details alleged that Geoffrey Paschel’s ex had been booked for a “Class E felony theft,” accused of stealing merchandise worth between “$1,000 and $2,500” from multiple Lowe’s home improvement stores “between February 20 and May 12, 2025.”
In response, the only thing that Varya Malina said was that she appreciated those who supported her, adding, “Thank you everyone who offered help and was genuinely worried. I LOVE YOU.”
Fact Checked: A Fake?
On July 24, a thoroughly fact-checked report by Newsweek found these claims to be false, with no official records to support the story. The report mentioned the unsubstantiated reports, which originated from social media, noting, “There have been multiple reports with conflicting details from unverified sources online and on social media.”
According to the detailed and definitive report, “there are no publicly available arrest records for Vavara ‘Varya’ Malina in Knox County.”
The outlet’s investigation included a search of public records for both Knox and Blount counties, which yielded no results for Malina’s name. Furthermore, when contacted by their reporter, a person at the Rodger D. Wilson Detention Facility confirmed that “they did not have anyone by the name of Varya Malina.”
The fact-checking article concluded that the claims “have come from sources which are not reputable and have not been reported on by reputable news outlets.” While some posts showed images purporting to be a mugshot, the fact-check states there is “no evidence that these are credible,” thus proving the entire narrative was based on misinformation.
Did Varya Deny Her Arrest?
So far, it doesn’t seem as though Varya Malina widely denied the arrest story. She hasn’t said anything on her YouTube vlog, and apart from her initial message where she thanked her supporters, she hasn’t seemed to have said anything at all.
If, as Newsweek claimed, it was a fake report, then perhaps her silence is simply her way of dealing with the additional stress that the social media posts caused her.
What are your thoughts? Are you surprised that the fact-checking site has not been able to find any official record of Varya Malina being arrested? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your 90 Day Fiancé cast news and updates.