'90 Day Fiancé' Star Rick Van Vactor Claims Girlfriend Started Fight That Led to His Arrest

90 Day Fiancé star Rick Van Vactor is reportedly offering a new explanation for the domestic violence incident that landed him in police custody: His girlfriend allegedly started it. The Before the 90 Days alum is now claiming he acted in self-defense during their confrontation, even as disturbing footage purportedly showing him physically assaulting the woman continues to circulate online.

According to TMZ, a source with direct knowledge of the situation claims Van Vactor was defending himself when the altercation occurred. The source maintains that his girlfriend instigated the confrontation, although the report offers no details about what she allegedly did or how the dispute escalated.

Van Vactor, whose legal name is Douglas Van Vactor, was arrested on Oct. 27 and subsequently released on bond, according to TMZ. California's VINE custody notification system previously confirmed that a Douglas Van Vactor was released from custody that afternoon.

But his reported defense isn't the only new development.

Sources also told TMZ that Van Vactor and his girlfriend have stopped living together since the incident, and that he has no interest in reconciling with her.

The couple reportedly began dating in March after meeting online. According to the source, the October confrontation was the first time their argument escalated to that degree.

That account follows longtime 90 Day Fiancé Instagram account Kiki & Kibbitz, which published allegations about Van Vactor’s behavior toward his girlfriend, including messages and footage the account said it received months earlier.

The video appears to show a man identified as Van Vactor putting his hands around a woman's neck and slapping her while young children are present in the home.

The franchise-focused account previously said it withheld the material because of concerns about the alleged victim and the sensitive nature of the situation.

"I have been sitting on messages and a video since June 2026 which shows abusive behavior from Rick towards his GF," the account wrote.

Following reports of his arrest, the account decided to make the material public.

"Given the recent developments of Rick being arrested, I think these earlier messages raise some serious questions," the post continued. "Was there a pattern here?"

The account also alleged that the argument leading to Van Vactor's arrest began over his activity on fellow 90 Day Fiancé personality Emma Perry's Instagram account.

Perry, who is currently appearing on 90 Day: Hunt for Love, was reportedly the subject of photographs Van Vactor had liked online.

There is no indication that Perry participated in the alleged confrontation or bears any responsibility for what occurred between Van Vactor and his girlfriend.

The latest allegations represent a significant departure from the relationship drama that originally made Rick a familiar face to TLC viewers.

He appeared on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days alongside Trisha Stiley, a midwife from Madagascar nearly three decades younger than him.

Their relationship was complicated by conflicting expectations about marriage and children. Rick, a divorced father of five, was reluctant to expand his family, while Trisha hoped to have children of her own.

But their romance ultimately fell apart because of Rick's involvement with another woman.

After Trisha stopped communicating with him, Rick traveled to Colombia to visit a former girlfriend. He subsequently admitted that they had slept together, a revelation that contributed to his breakup with Trisha.

Their disagreements continued into the season's Tell-All, after which Rick moved on romantically.