
Matt James, a former “Bachelor” star, and Rachael Kirkconnell, his longtime girlfriend, 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 Rachael and I 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 featured a photo of the pair 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 various pizzas and noted his location as London.
Kirkconnell, 28, is yet to say anything about the breakup. Her most recent upload was a December video dedicated to James for his birthday.
In it, she wrote, “Happiest of birthdays to my best friend, my teammate, my sous chef, 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. thank you for your never-ending love and support and smooches and snuggles. 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 smooth. They opted to continue dating but refrained from getting engaged at the season finale.
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 parted ways following the controversy.
Chris Harrison, then host of The Bachelor, defended Kirkconnell in an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, the first Black lead on the franchise. Harrison’s remarks led to significant backlash and his eventual departure from the show.
In May 2021, James and Kirkconnell confirmed 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 that we’ve been through has prepared us for the future.”
He continued, “It felt like the world was against us. Some people felt like the situation was blown out of proportion and others felt like it hadn’t gotten 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 weighing in.”
Over the years, the duo shared many adventures together, frequently appearing on each other’s social media. In February 2024, James told PEOPLE that an engagement was part of their plans, promising a “special” proposal.
He emphasized the importance of moving at their own pace, saying, “It’s about doing whatever you’re doing at your own pace, whether that’s the relationship, your job, exercise. If you do things that other people want you to do and you don’t consider y’all’s feelings, then I think that is a recipe for disaster.”
(PEOPLE)
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