Watch: ‘The Bachelor’s’ Matt James Announces Rachael Kirkconnell Break Up After 4 Years Together
Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell’s journey seemingly ended with a European getaway.
Although the former Bachelor star—who pursued a relationship with Rachael during season 25 of the dating series—announced the couple’s breakup Jan. 16, all seemed well between the two in the days before their split was made public.
In a video posted on Instagram Jan. 12, the 33-year-old documented an outing with Rachael, 28, to a sushi restaurant in London. He followed that up with clips highlighting other hotspots in the European city—all of which featured his now-ex—culminating in a pizza date recap posted Jan. 15.
The following day, Matt shared that he and Rachael had chosen to part ways in a social media announcement written in the form of a prayer.
“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” he captioned a photo on his Instagram of the two during their first meeting on The Bachelor. “Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding.”
Rachael has yet to address the split publicly, but her most recent post on Instagram was a heartfelt birthday tribute to her then-boyfriend last month where she called him “the man that has my whole heart.”
“You fill it (and my tummy) with so much love and laughter and I’m so thankful I get to dance through this life with you,” she gushed in December. “Thank you for your never ending love and support and smooches and snuggles.”
Instagram/Rachael Kirkconnell
The pair originally found love on Matt’s season of The Bachelor, which aired in 2021, resulting in Rachael earning his final rose in the season finale. And while the two parted ways shortly after her racially insensitive photo controversy, they reconciled weeks after the After the Final Rose reunion special aired.
Rachael wasn’t the only member of Bachelor Nation affected by her photo scandal. Chris Harrison, who hosted the franchise beginning with season one of The Bachelor in 2002, formally exited the role in June 2021 after making controversial comments in her defense amid the public backlash.
But in March 2024, the TV host announced his intention to return to the small screen with two new series, including one featuring “dating elements” akin to his previous gig.
“For years and years I said, ‘[The Bachelor] is the most dramatic show ever,’” he told Entertainment Tonight at the time. “We want to create a show where those words actually ring true, so this dating show will be the most dramatic ever—that you can be sure of.”
Keep scrolling for a look at the women competing on the upcoming 29th season of The Bachelor.
The 27-year-old joins the show from Chicago, Illinois, where she works as a registered nurse.
The nightclub server, 28, works in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 27-year-old social media manager currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
The 27-year-old pulls double duty in New York, New York, as a tech engineer and model.
The boxing trainer joins the series from Manalapan, New Jersey, and is 30-years-old.
The 26-year-old works as a retail manager in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The 28-year-old is an associate media director in New York, New York.
Living in Fargo, North Dakota, the 26-year-old works as a marketing director.
The pediatric behavior analyst, 29, lives in Birmingham, Michigan.
The 25-year-old works as a luxury travel host in Los Angeles, California.
The 28-year-old from Newton, Massachusetts, is a client service associate.
From Charlottesville, Virginia, the 27-year-old works as a wedding planner.
The 28-year-old is an attorney from New York, New York.
Living in Salt Lake City, Utah, the 31-year-old works as a venture capitalist.
The 27-year-old works as a model in New York, New York.
The pediatrician, 32, hales from Blythewood, South Carolina.
Working as an attorney, the 31-year-old lives in Chicago, Illinois.
The interior designer, 26, lives in Brooklyn, New York.
The 30-year-old is from Howard Beach, New York, and works as an insurance salesperson.
Living in Louisville, Kentucky, the 25-year-old is a Ph.D. student.
The 28-year-old lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she works as an account coordinator.
The public relations producer is 28 and joins the show from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
The 31-year-old works as an ICU nurse in Dallas, Texas.
The 27-year-old hales from New Brunswick, Canada, and works as a pediatric speech therapist.
The interior designer, 29, is from Tampa, Florida.
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