It’s over, boys. The Bachelor’s Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell have officially split—this time, seemingly for good. Four years after their fairytale-meets-tabloid romance began on the glossy melodrama of Season 25, the couple’s love story has ended not with a bang, but a prayer.
The news dropped on Jan. 16 via James’ Instagram, where he posted a heartfelt—and let’s be real, painfully public—plea to the heavens. “Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” he wrote.
“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 was paired with a throwback photo of the pair meeting on The Bachelor—a reality TV moment immortalized in primetime. James tagged Kirkconnell but silenced the peanut gallery by turning off comments. Oh, and in true post-breakup flex fashion, he followed it up with an Instagram Story of pizza pics, tagged from London. Nothing says “I’m fine” quite like international carbs.
As for Kirkconnell? Radio silence. Her last post, a sugary birthday tribute to James in early December, now reads like a ghost of love past. “Happiest of birthdays to my best friend, my teammate, my sous chef, the man that has my whole heart,” she’d gushed. “You fill it (and my tummy) with so much love and laughter.” Pour one out for the pumpkin emojis, folks.
A Romance Born in Controversy
Let’s rewind. The couple met during the chaos that was The Bachelor’s 2020 season. James, the franchise’s first Black Bachelor, and Kirkconnell, a contestant embroiled in controversy after old photos of her at an Antebellum-themed party surfaced, were doomed from the start. Despite the drama, they bypassed the ring—no Neil Lane diamond here—and chose to date post-show. But not without a brief breakup when the scandal boiled over.
Adding fuel to the dumpster fire was former host Chris Harrison, who went full defense mode for Kirkconnell in an interview with Rachel Lindsay, The Bachelorette’s first Black lead. The fallout? Harrison got the boot, and the franchise entered its never-ending reckoning with race and representation.
By May 2021, James and Kirkconnell had reconciled, proving, at least temporarily, that love could conquer the reality-TV-industrial complex. “It felt like the world was against us,” James told PEOPLE in 2022. “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.”
Love’s Final Curtain Call
In the years that followed, the couple globetrotted their way into Instagram’s highlight reels. From exotic locales to cutesy captions, it looked like they had it all. As recently as February 2024, James hinted at an engagement, promising a “special” proposal was in the works.
“It’s about doing things at your own pace,” he’d told PEOPLE. “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.”
Prophetic words, Matt.
Now, the Bachelor Nation’s fairytale has crumbled. But hey, at least we’ll always have the hashtags, the drama, and that pizza post. For anyone who’s ever loved and lost, or just lost themselves in the ridiculousness of reality TV, this one’s for you. Cheers to the mess—it’s what makes life interesting.
Last modified: January 17, 2025
