Rachael Kirkconnell of ‘The Bachelor’ sheds light on Matt James’ infamous break-up post

Rachael Kirkconnell is speaking candidly about her unexpected separation from “The Bachelor” lead Matt James. She reveals that she was taken aback when he publicly declared their breakup via social media. Currently, she’s working through the emotional aftermath of the relationship.

On the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, a celebrity from The Bachelor Nation disclosed on Tuesday that James posted his well-known prayer about their split without her awareness. This happened on the same day they ended their relationship and right before she was on a lengthy flight from Tokyo to Atlanta.

In Kirkconnell’s words to the host, “It felt as though he was expressing it like a prayer might be simpler than speaking truthfully about our true relationship, and this wasn’t unexpected of him, but what did surprise me was that he said anything at all, let alone posted it.

James, who was a contestant in the 2021 season of ABC’s dating competition, revealed on Instagram in mid-January that he and Kirkconnell had parted ways after four years together. In his post, he asked God for strength to heal their broken hearts and peace about the decision to end their relationship.

Television

Matt James, the initial Black male star of the ‘Bachelor’ franchise, announced that he and his former co-star and girlfriend, Rachael Kirkconnell, have parted ways.

Initially, Kirkconnell, aged 28, subtly suggested online that James was the one who made the call without her. In a recent interview, however, the graphic designer, discussing her ordeal with the contentious season of “The Bachelor” and its following events, revealed more about their emotional separation, stating that she has forgiven him but feels deeply disrespected by his actions.

Although it’s tough, I believe it’s best for me to assert myself and go solo,” she stated.

In the reality show competition, the contestant openly shared her deep feelings of insecurity in her partnership with the ex-athlete from the NCAA, confessing that trust was a significant challenge for her. Yet, she clarified that rumors suggesting his infidelity were not true.

Kirkconnell mentioned that the initial two years of her relationship with James were incredibly enjoyable. However, by the start of their third year, she began questioning the direction their relationship was heading. According to her, it appeared they were moving in sync regarding proposals, weddings, and starting a family.

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Reflecting on it now, it’s perplexing because during our conversations, he appeared to share the same perspective. This consistency was evident both in private and public settings, whether we were giving interviews or responding to comments about getting married. However, as she expressed through tears, despite the shared words and discussions about moving forward, his actions clearly didn’t align with those intentions.

During their latest journey, Kirkconnell mentioned that they frequently discussed their shared future. Although they didn’t reside together, she stated that due to the extensive traveling they undertook together, they essentially lived as one, given their close proximity.

In Tokyo, the night prior to their separation, Kirkconnell admitted she was feeling overwhelmed due to the challenge of finding a suitable restaurant for dinner, as a significant part of James’ job involved showcasing excellent food spots in his content. When she eventually chose a restaurant, it didn’t meet her expectations, leading to a minor emotional breakdown because she felt she had let James down.

She explained, “Tonight, I found myself feeling drained, irritable, emotional, and quite low due to a combination of factors – being on my period, feeling exhausted, and struggling to find a suitable dinner spot for an extended time. When we finally arrived and discovered the place was disappointing, I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me.” She added, “This led to two tears falling from my eyes at the table – just two, one after another. At that point, I decided it was enough, and I didn’t let myself get any more upset. Instead, I focused on calming down.

Music

According to Brianna ‘Chickenfry’ LaPaglia, she alleges that she experienced emotional abuse at the hands of Zach Bryan. To this day, she remains fearful following her decision to turn down a 12-million dollar contract that included a non-disclosure clause.

However, during dinner, she remained quiet, and it was only when they returned to their hotel that James expressed his concern about her being upset. Yet, she admitted feeling puzzled by his response, as well as saddened by the perceived absence of comfort and understanding from him.

He seemed to imply, ‘If you get upset over minor issues, how will you cope when faced with major setbacks in life?’ Essentially, he questioned my ability to deal with frightening, disheartening or sorrowful events. And it was painful to hear because I felt as if I were being reprimanded for shedding tears.

The day after their visit to a Tokyo market, a minor disagreement escalated into a significant argument, leading to a deeper discussion about their compatibility. This conversation revealed that James had been harboring feelings for some time, expressing that the burden of marriage felt particularly heavy on him, suggesting they were not well-suited as a couple.

Suddenly, it seemed unanticipated. He expressed concerns at the close of the day about certain characteristics of mine that he felt might be problematic in a wife, he stated. Furthermore, he mentioned that she often struggled with accepting responsibility for her errors – an observation made despite her being the one to express apologies first, even when those mistakes weren’t her fault.

Television

Gerry Turner, affectionately known as ‘The Golden Bachelor’, disclosed that an early diagnosis of bone marrow cancer during his marriage to Theresa Nist played a significant role in their sudden separation.

She shared that he expressed his desire to be married to her by this point, yet he hadn’t quite reached a stage where he felt comfortable proposing – and admitted that he never envisioned proposing to her in the future either.

I found it overwhelming because just a few days ago, I was being told something completely different. It seems that he does care for me and wanted our relationship to succeed, however, in the long run, he apparently still feels that I’m not the right match for him.

She found the separation incredibly painful. Following their choice to part ways, she set off for home by boarding a flight alone. While in the air, a friend reached out to her, urgently informing her about James’ Instagram post that she hadn’t seen yet. As the plane ascended, she was unable to access the internet until it touched down. She confessed that she spent the duration of the flight anxious over what others were saying about his post and their split.

She mentioned, “I’m still uncertain if his response was due to anger, spite, or if it wasn’t intentional at all. To put it frankly, if he hadn’t shared it so publicly, immediately after our breakup, I wouldn’t be questioning where we currently stand. It seems to me that when someone tells you such things directly – ‘I don’t believe you’re the one for me, I never envisioned us getting married’ – it’s a clear signal to move on.

Television

With Mike Fleiss stepping down and the show’s prominent black cast members openly calling for ‘accountability’, the internal shifts within the franchise suggest it stands at a critical juncture.

I couldn’t stay any longer after that, regardless of my desires. It was difficult for me to detach, but when someone tells you something like that, there comes a time when one must relinquish the hope, especially when it concerns someone I care deeply for and had hoped to be my partner.

James, who is a real estate broker, business owner, and founder of community organizations, hasn’t issued any statements regarding Kirkconnell’s recent interview as of yet. A representative for Kirkconnell has not provided an immediate response to The Times’ request for comment on the matter. In his interview, Kirkconnell admitted that he should have warned her before posting a statement without her knowledge.

Previously, James had been a friend of Tyler Cameron on Hannah Brown’s season of “The Bachelorette.” Later, he made history by becoming the first Black male lead on “The Bachelor” – a role that was previously held by attorney Rachel Lindsay when she starred as “The Bachelorette” back in 2017.

Television

It’s been reported that Matthew Byars, previously known as Karen Huger’s assistant on ‘The Real Housewives of Potomac,’ passed away, as confirmed by the Maryland medical examiner.

In their 2021 finale, the ex-football player attracted attention when he opted to present her with the final rose, but expressed a desire to carry on dating instead of proposing.

The “After the Final Rose” event, which provides an update on what’s happened since filming wrapped up, took an unexpected turn as James and Kirkconnell faced the fallout from the racial backlash that marked their season, prompting a necessary conversation about race within the show.

The dispute over a fraternity party themed on the pre-Civil War South that was hosted by Kirkconnell previously, additionally resulted in the removal of Chris Harrison, a longtime host of “The Bachelor.” This happened when, during an interview with Lindsay, he downplayed the significance of 2018 images involving a contestant.

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2025-01-30 03:32

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