Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James’s breakup was as surprising to fans as it was, apparently, to Kirkconnell herself.
Let’s refresh: Kirkconnell met James on The Bachelor’s 25th season, where she was one of the 25 women vying for his final rose. However, as the show aired in the spring of 2021, viewers unearthed photos Kirkconnell at an antebellum-themed party, which caused friction between her and James and ignited backlash against both Kirkconnell and the show. Multiple parties engaged, including longtime host Chris Harrison, who was eventually fired.
But let’s get one thing straight: While Rachael Kirkconnell is not perfect, she doesn’t deserve to be blindsided. However, according to Rachel, who appeared on an episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast which aired on January 29, that’s exactly what happened. Without consulting her first, James announced on Instagram on January 16 that his three-and-half year relationship with Kirkconnell was over.
So what happened? Here’s Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James’s complete breakup timeline, with the most recent events up top.
January 29, 2024: Rachael Kirkconnell speaks with Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper about what really happened between her and Matt James.
After a trip to Japan earlier this month, James apparently decided to end his three-and-a-half year-long relationship with Kirkconnell.
She tells Cooper that things were tense between them in Japan, but there were no signs pointing to a breakup. She adds that towards the end of the trip, the couple had an argument that turned into a larger conversation, in which James claimed that he wasn’t ready to get married to her and didn’t know when he would be.
“I loved him so much, and I wanted him to be my partner,” she tells Cooper. “But, when someone says that to you, what else can you do? You have to give it up at that point.”
Rachael says she found out about the breakup like the rest of us—through Instagram—but to make matters worse, it was right before she took off on a flight back to Atlanta.
“The plane is taking off, and I see his post. And that’s it,” she explains. “I don’t have any service for the next twelve hours.”
On Call Her Daddy, she confirms that she and James have spoken since his breakup post. However, she adds, there is no reconciliation in sight.
January 28, 2024: TMZ speaks to Rachael about the split. She confirms that infidelity was not the reason for the breakup.
January 27, 2024: A fan claims to “spot” Kirkconnell and James together, but she quickly denies it was her. “Hmm wasn’t me lol,” she commented on a Deuxmoi post on Instagram.
January 16, 2024: Matt James announces the breakup on Instagram.
“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” he wrote underneath a photo of the two on The Bachelor. “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 💔” Rachael is tagged in the photo. The comments are turned off.
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