Whatever it is that they're doing, they should keep doing it. It's rare to see people in the spotlight who look genuinely happy.
Matt James Announces Split from Rachael Kirkconnell Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell have called it quits. The former Bachelor, 33, shared the news with a prayer on Instagram on Thursday, Jan. 16, writing, “Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us 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." Kirkconnell did not share her own post. Her last video was posted in early December and was a video birthday tribute to James. The couple met on season 25 of The Bachelor in 2020 where Kirkconnell won James’ season amid controversy. At the time, James and Kirkconnell chose to continue dating but not to get engaged during the reality show’s finale. Kirkconnell was involved in scandal after photos of her attending an Antebellum-themed party in college surfaced. James, who was the show’s first Black Bachelor and Kirkconnell briefly split amid the fallout. Former The Bachelor host Chris Harrison defended Kirkconnell in an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette, leading to Harrison ultimately exiting the show. In May 2021, James and Kirkconnell confirmed that they had rekindled their romance. In the years since, the couple has traveled the globe together and been featured regularly on one another's social media accounts. In February 2024, James said that engagement was the goal when it came to his relationship with Kirkconnell and promised a "special" proposal. Credit: People.com
I was just praising them too. Well they got 4 years out it, which is pretty good considering the controversy around them. They looked like they was in bliss on Instagram but looks can be deceiving.
They'll probably wind up back together. Something tells me the engagement, marriage and family was a tough decision for someone. They been together too long without one of those things happening. So, they either BOTH didn't believe in those things or there was conflict about that next level in their relationship. Sometimes you don't don't realize what you got until it's gone. It seems to me they were just at a impasse about the next level.
These Bachelor shows just aren't creating built to last relationships, I feel like these couples trauma bond more than anything else.
It has to be hard to form a lasting, meaningful bond amidst media frenzy, papparazzi, and near constant public scrutiny. And the issues are probably even more acute in the context of an IR relationship.
Rachael Kirkconnell Denies Infidelity Led to Matt James Split Rachael Kirkconnell has spoken. The former Bachelor contestant, 28, was spotted at LAX on Monday, Jan. 27, and approached by TMZ, which led to breaking her silence on her split from Matt James for the first time. Kirkconnell — who met James on his season of the ABC dating series in 2020 — said she was "doing okay" and "hanging in there" as she boarded an escalator and approached the security line in the airport. "It's nothing that you can prepare for, so yeah, you just take it one day at a time," she said of navigating a breakup in the public eye. When asked what happened that led to the split — which James, 33, announced in a cryptic Instagram post on Jan. 16 — Kirkconnell responded, "Things will start to come out and I'll speak out it whenever I'm ready, but for now, I'm just protecting my peace." She did clarify, though, that there was "no" infidelity involved, but still, when asked about the potential for a reconciliation, she said, "No. Yeah, we're out." Kirkconnell is expected to open up more about the breakup during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, which was recently announced by host Alex Cooper. The episode will debut on Jan. 28. Credit: People.com
