“Love Trapped,” an Apple Podcasts limited series that launched in February 2026, has become one of the platform’s biggest hits, drawing over 25 million views through its exploration of a three-year legal case involving Clayton Echard, who starred as the lead on season 26 of ABC’s The Bachelor.
The podcast, hosted by radio journalist Stephani Young and produced by Glass Podcasts and iHeartPodcasts, documents how an anonymous ex-girlfriend later identified as Laura Owens filed a paternity claim against Echard in September 2023, alleging she was pregnant with his twins. According to court proceedings and the podcast’s investigation, Owens fabricated evidence including altered ultrasound images, falsified medical records, and a fake pregnancy video. Early court rulings indicated she provided false testimony under oath during paternity and protective order hearings. In one widely-circulated court proceeding, she was filmed adjusting what appeared to be a prosthetic pregnancy belly.
Echard, a former NFL athlete, acknowledged having a brief encounter with Owens after relocating to Arizona in 2022 to pursue real estate, but stated the contact was limited to a single night. He characterized the subsequent paternity claim as confusing and suggested Owens had targeted successful men in the area based on social media activity. Young was approached by Glass Entertainment in May 2025 to host the series, which initially launched as a 10-episode weekly release before expanding to 27 episodes including bonus content tracking the ongoing case.
The podcast achieved significant commercial success, reaching number one on Apple’s Top Series rankings and maintaining a position in the Top 10 for over 30 weeks. It was named among Apple’s best podcasts of 2026 and is now eligible for 2027 Golden Globes consideration. Young, who had backgrounds in radio and podcasting, invested over 40 hours in interviews with Echard and conducted research beginning in June 2025. The series features contributions from various content creators and franchise commentators. Additional episodes are scheduled, with new content planned through late 2026.
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