Matt James, Rachael Kirkconnell Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images; Noam Galai/Getty Images
Bachelor Nation is having a hard time accepting Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell really called it quits.
The 33-year-old former Bachelor posted a breakup statement in the early hours of Thursday, January 16, writing: “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 💔.”
Hours earlier, James had shared a video of him and Kirkconnell, 28, trying pizza at Crisp Pizza W6, a new hotspot in London where you have to reserve your dough via WhatsApp. Fans subsequently flooded the post with questions.
“So you are eating 36” total pizza together and 12 hours later you are doing a break up press release?” one user wrote. Another added, “With all due respect, the math ain’t mathing on this one Matt … have you been hacked?”
A third commenter pleaded, “I REFUUUUSSEEE TO BELIEVE MY FAVORITE EATING COUPLE BROKE UP!😩😭 it’s not April Matthew stop playing with us like this!”
While the timing of the trip seems suspect, Us understands that James often shares travel and food content on a delay, meaning the twosome are likely no longer in London. The post could’ve been pre-scheduled or planned and had to be pushed before he announced the split since Kirkconnell is featured.
As other fans question the language of James’ post, noting that he doesn’t often write captions with a religious flare, Us would like to remind you that he opened his season of The Bachelor with a prayer.
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us all together healthy. Give these women the courage to get through these next few months,” he said in the January 2021 episode. “You say that you work all things for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose, Father God. And I feel like that’s why I’m here and I feel like that’s why these women are here, Lord.”
When asked about his decision to lead with his faith on the show at the time, James told Refinery29: “It wasn’t difficult. Because that’s something that’s extremely important to me. But, I’ll say this: My brother and I have very different religious views — and I would die for him. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my brother. That goes to say, just because I don’t share the same religious view as somebody doesn’t mean I see them as any less of a person I could be compatible with. But I think it’s important that they know where my peace comes from and where my decision making is rooted in.”
Kirkconnell, for her part, has yet to publicly comment on the split. So fans can keep holding out hope that James is playing a prank — but Us is more convinced that he got up early for a morning run and was called to share the news.
