Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell ABC/Craig Sjodin
Former Bachelor Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell have called it quits four years after finding love on The Bachelor.
“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding,” James, 33, wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of him and Kirkconnell on Bachelor season 25.
“Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord 💔,” James added in the caption of his post, which he tagged Kirkconnell, 28, in.
James picked Kirkconnell as his Bachelor winner during season 25, which aired in early 2021. However, by the After the Final Rose special in March of that year, James said he and Kirkconnell had broken up after Kirkconnell’s past racially insensitive social media activity resurfaced. The couple reconciled a month later.
In October 2024, James, the first Black Bachelor lead, and Kirkconnell teased getting married in the future.
“I think that’s the next step,” James quipped during an episode of the “De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan” podcast. “Having had so many of Rachael’s friends go through engagements, I wouldn’t dare go look at a ring without consulting Rachael first.”
Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell’s Bachelor love story was a journey — on and off screen. ABC named Matt the season 25 lead in June 2020, subsequently revealing that the series received a record number of submissions for contestants. Among the 38 women who had the opportunity to meet Matt was Rachael, a graphic designer […]
Kirkconnell concurred that deciding on the diamond was the next step before James popped the question.
“I have the finger ready,” she joked on the podcast. “I feel that’s definitely something we want. I’m on his time. My problem is I definitely need to go find a ring I like and everything, but that’s on him at that point. … That’s a problem, I don’t even know what I want.”
During the same episode, James said he had “been hinting at marriage for a very long time.”
“I don’t think Rachael is taking my hints seriously,” he joked. “I’m obviously a couple years older than you and women tend to outlive the men because, I don’t know, but that’s typically how it goes. I fully embrace being a stay-at-home dad. I will stay home and take care of the kids, so I’m gonna empower you … [to] start your own brand.”
Not all Bachelor Nation breakups are as pretty as a rose. Colton Underwood and his Bachelor season 23 winner Cassie Randolph, for example, vowed to stay friends when they went public with their split in May 2020. Things quickly turned sour after Colton shaded Cassie’s decision to do an interview with Chris Harrison during the […]
Kirkconnell, who laughed off James’ remarks about hints and launching a lifestyle empire, said she was also ready to build a family with the former football player.
“I’ll say this, I love the idea of getting married and having that commitment to one another, and kids and family really excite me,” Kirkconnell said. “But, the idea of planning a wedding really puts me off. Like sometimes I’m just, like, ‘Let’s just elope.’”
From breakups to makeups and everything in between, Bachelor Nation has seen it all — and it hasn’t always been pretty. Loyal fans of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette often put in the work to uncover secrets from contestants’ pasts as they search for love on the ABC reality franchise. During Matt James‘ historic season, […]
James previously told Us Weekly that he and Kirkconnell weren’t succumbing to external pressures to quicken their timeline.
“We’re doing great. I feel like when you feel pressure, it’s when you don’t wanna do something,” James exclusively told Us in June 2024. “So I’ve never really felt pressure [to get engaged] because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. It’s something that we’re gonna do at some point. That’s why we’re together and what we’re working toward. I’m excited about our future.”
