{"id":144281,"date":"2025-01-16T12:01:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T12:01:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/16\/the-bachelors-matt-james-and-rachael-kirkconnell-break-up\/"},"modified":"2025-01-16T12:01:55","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T12:01:55","slug":"the-bachelors-matt-james-and-rachael-kirkconnell-break-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/16\/the-bachelors-matt-james-and-rachael-kirkconnell-break-up\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bachelor’s Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Break Up"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>

\n Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell<\/span> ABC\/Craig Sjodin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former Bachelor Matt James<\/strong><\/a> and Rachael Kirkconnell<\/strong><\/a> have called it quits four years after finding love on The Bachelor<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cFather 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,\u201d James, 33, wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of him and Kirkconnell on\u00a0Bachelor<\/em> season 25.<\/p>\n

\u201cShower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord \ud83d\udc94,\u201d James added in the caption of his post, which he tagged Kirkconnell, 28, in.<\/p>\n

James picked Kirkconnell as his\u00a0Bachelor<\/em> winner during season 25, which aired in early 2021. However, by the After the Final Rose<\/em> special in March of that year, James said he and Kirkconnell had broken up<\/a> after Kirkconnell\u2019s past racially insensitive social media activity<\/a> resurfaced. The couple reconciled a month later.<\/p>\n

\n<\/blockquote>\n

In October 2024, James, the first Black\u00a0Bachelor<\/em> lead, and Kirkconnell teased getting married in the future<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s the next step,\u201d James quipped during an episode of the \u201cDe-Influenced with Dani + Jordan\u201d podcast. \u201cHaving had so many of Rachael\u2019s friends go through engagements, I wouldn\u2019t dare go look at a ring without consulting Rachael first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
\"Country<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Bachelor\u2019s Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell: A Complete Timeline<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tMatt James and Rachael Kirkconnell\u2019s Bachelor love story has been a journey \u2014 on and off screen. ABC named the 29-year-old Wake Forest graduate 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 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Kirkconnell concurred that deciding on the diamond was the next step before James popped the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have the finger ready,\u201d she joked on the podcast. \u201cI feel that\u2019s definitely something we want. I\u2019m on his time. My problem is I definitely need to go find a ring I like and everything, but that\u2019s on him at that point. \u2026 That\u2019s a problem, I don\u2019t even know what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"The<\/div>
Courtesy Rachael Kirkconnell\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the same episode, James said he had \u201cbeen hinting at marriage for a very long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think Rachael is taking my hints seriously,\u201d he joked. \u201cI\u2019m obviously a couple years older than you and women tend to outlive the men because, I don\u2019t know, but that\u2019s 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\u2019m gonna empower you \u2026 [to] start your own brand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
\"Messiest<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Messiest Bachelor Nation Breakups: Andi and Josh, Colton and Cassie, More<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tNot 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\u2019s decision to do an interview with Chris Harrison during the [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Kirkconnell, who laughed off James\u2019 remarks about hints and launching a lifestyle empire, said she was also ready to build a family with the former football player.<\/p>\n

\n
\n