Matt James is still raising eyebrows for his statement announcing his split from Rachael Kirkconnell — which has since been deleted.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed that James’ breakup post is no longer visible on his Instagram account. The post, initially shared January 16, read: “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 💔.”
James’ most recent social media uploads are now focused on his travels to Kenya, including videos of himself running and tasting local foods. “I booked a one way ticket to Kenya, please share Africa recs 🫶🏾🇰🇪,” he wrote earlier this month. His account still features some videos with Kirkconnell, 28, from before their split.
The former couple met during season 25 of The Bachelor, which aired in 2021. The pair did not end the season engaged and briefly parted ways amid controversy surrounding Kirkconnell’s resurfaced photos from an “Old South”-themed college party. (Kirkconnell apologized at the time amid the widespread backlash.)
“While there have been rumors circulating, there have also been truths that have come to light that I need to address. I hear you, and I’m here to say I was wrong,” she wrote via Instagram in February 2021. “At one point, I didn’t recognize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that doesn’t excuse them. My age or when it happened does not excuse anything. They are not acceptable or OK in any sense. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist.”
Matt James, Rachael Kirkconnell. Getty Images (2)
Before the pair called it quits, James hinted several times that he was planning to propose to Kirkconnell. While breaking her silence on their split, Kirkconnell questioned James’ promises about their future.
“He said that at the end of the day there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife. At the end of the day, there are things that we aren’t compatible with and the whole accountability and saying sorry and all that was really the main thing,” she recalled on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast about what led to the split. “It was just one of those things where he, I think, just had this realization that ‘I should want to propose to you by this time. Like, at this point in our relationship, I should be wanting those things and I should be ready for that. But I’m not still, I still don’t feel like we’re ready or I don’t feel like I’m ready. I don’t know if I ever see myself proposing to you. I can’t actually see myself married to you.’”
Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James. Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Mark Levinson
Kirkconnell also shared her reaction to James going public with their split as she was boarding a flight home from their trip to Japan and about to lose internet connection.
“He didn’t even text me to give me a warning, like, saying, ‘Hey, I’m posting this,’” Kirkconnell said. “It just hurt to know that’s how my friends found out and my family and my little sister. I didn’t get to talk to them about it or grieve privately for, like, a day.”
Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell‘s split comes as a surprise after the couple hinted at a potential engagement — and marriage plans — for years. James broke the news on Thursday, January 16, that he and Kirkconnell parted ways, writing via Instagram, “Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” he […]
As she continues to heal, Kirkconnell clarified that she has no plans to get back together with James.
“It’s only been a few weeks, but I’m definitely in that phase of just, like, still trying to grasp everything and figure out a new normal. It’s easier said than done,” she said in an interview with Cosmopolitan published on Friday, February 7. “Some days are easier than others, but I’m feeling OK. Breakups are normal; they happen to everyone.”
She continued: “I think just the way it went down was really crazy for me to comprehend and still is. In a way, it almost makes it easier, you know? I think when something crazy like that happens, it’s something that you can almost replay in your head to get over it quicker, if that makes any sense.”
