Former “Bachelor” star Matt James and his longtime girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell have broken up.
James made the post on Instagram on January 16.
The news was accompanied by a heartfelt prayer. He wrote: “Father God, give Rachel and me the strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord 💔.”
The post included a photo of the couple meeting on The Bachelor for the first time. James tagged Kirkconnell in the post and disabled comments. He later updated his Instagram Stories with an image of several pizzas and noted that their location was London.
Kirkconnell, 28, has yet to say anything about the breakup. Her most recent upload was a December video dedicated to James for his birthday.
In it, he wrote: “Happiest birthday to my best friend, my teammate, my sous chef, the man who has my whole heart. You fill it (and my belly) with so much love and laughter and I am so grateful to be able to dance through this life with you. Thank you for your endless love and support, your kisses and hugs. Here’s to many more adventures, happy birthday my pumpkin ♡.”
The couple first met during season 25 of The Bachelor in 2020, where Kirkconnell ultimately won. However, their journey was far from easy. They opted to continue dating but refrained from getting engaged at the end of the season.
Their relationship faced public scrutiny when photos emerged of Kirkconnell attending an Antebellum-themed party during college. James, who was the show's first black lead, and Kirkconnell briefly split following the controversy.
Chris Harrison, then host of The Bachelor, defended Kirkconnell in an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, the franchise's first black lead. Harrison's comments sparked significant backlash and his eventual departure from the show.
In May 2021, James and Kirkconnell confirmed that they had reconciled. In a 2022 interview with PEOPLE, James reflected on the growth and healing they had experienced as a couple, saying, “I've learned a lot. And at the end of the day, everything we've been through has prepared us for the future.”
He continued: “It seemed like the world was against us. Some people felt that the situation had been blown out of proportion and others felt that it had not received enough attention. “We were just trying to enjoy each other and grow our relationship without having to deal with people we didn't even know.”
Over the years, the duo shared many adventures and frequently appeared on each other's social media sites. In February 2024, James told PEOPLE that an engagement was part of his plans and promised a “special” proposal.
She emphasized the importance of moving at your own pace, saying, “It's about doing whatever you're doing at your own pace, whether it's your relationship, your job, or exercise. “If you do things that other people want you to do and you don't consider your feelings, then I think that's a recipe for disaster.”
(PEOPLE)
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