Exclusive
NO HEADS UP
Sources close to the couple claim Matt may have cared more about fame and attention than taking the next step in their relationship
- Nicole Chenoweth, Entertainment Editor
- Published: 17:23 ET, Jan 16 2025
- Updated: 17:23 ET, Jan 16 2025
RACHAEL Kirkconnell has been ‘blindsided’ by Matt James’ breakup post that left her feeling ‘humiliated,’ The U.S. Sun can reveal.
The Bachelor star has fans feeling shocked and confused on Thursday after he shared an early-morning Instagram post with a bizarre caption that announced his split from his longtime girlfriend.
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Rachael Kirkconnell attends Variety’s New York Party at Loosie’s Nightclub on October 05, 2023 in New York CityCredit: Getty
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Matt James attends the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards at Allegiant Stadium on March 07, 2022 in Las Vegas, NevadaCredit: Getty
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Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James attends the Boss Spring/Summer 2023 Miami Runway Show at One Herald Plaza on March 15, 2023Credit: Getty
Just hours after gushing about his relationship and even sharing future plans to propose, Matt, 33, posted a photo with Rachael, 28, on the set of The Bachelor when he was the lead in 2021.
To add even more personal sentiment, he even tagged the resort, Nemacolin in Farmington, Pennsylvania, where the duration of season 25 was filmed due to the pandemic.
The food vloggers caption is what raised questions with fans: “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.”
Fans are baffled by the breakup post and it seems they’re not the only ones as a source close to the couple exclusively told The U.S. Sun that her family is also still trying to piece together what’s going on.
“Everyone is confused and still trying to get to the bottom of what happened but first and foremost, they’re supporting Rachael and making sure she’s okay.
“They didn’t know they were fully broken up. Rachael is being pretty quiet right now but I know she was blindsided by Matt’s post.
“She didn’t know he was going to do that and definitely wouldn’t have approved of it if she did.
“And she thinks it’s just as weird as everyone else does, she’s humiliated that’s how the news came out,” the insider said.
The source went on to say that Rachael is “the one who pulled the plug, full stop” and that while Matt “knows what he did”, ultimately, it is her story to tell.
Just a few hours before Matt’s breakup post, he commented under multiple TikTok videos discussing how “gorgeous” Rachael is and even talked about what kind of ring he wants to propose with and what food they should have at their wedding.
Bachelor Matt James claims Rachael Kirkconnell gave him an ‘ultimatum’ after cheating rumors but are now ‘back together’
He also shared videos with Rachael during a couple’s trip to London – adding extra layers to the levels of confusion as it appeared the duo were together when he shared the breakup post.
However, the source said that the pair are “not together” as they’ve been back and Matt often shares videos after leaving a location for safety and privacy reasons.
“It seems like he’s talking with people for the social media engagement and for the attention?
“But being, essentially, a social media couple, Matt has to continue posting all their pre-filmed content.
“That’s his business, that’s his livelihood. And the reality is, his content without Rachael doesn’t do as well with views and engagement so he is continuing to post as much as he can with what he has.”
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Rachael ate pizza with Matt in a TikTok video posted just hours before the breakup announcementCredit: TikTok / mattjames9191
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Matt James drinks beers at a pub with Rachael before their splitCredit: TikTok / mattjames9191
Rachael has not yet commented on the split and Matt has since turned off the Instagram comments to his post.
Matt and Rachael met while filming season 25 of The Bachelor in September 2020 and had a spark from the beginning.
The season, which began to air in January 2021, marked the beginning of the couple’s public romance playing out.
Although they didn’t get engaged in the finale of the series, the couple remained together until they briefly split.
When the show’s After The Final Rose reunion aired that March, the couple had called-it-quits after racially insensitive pictures of Rachael resurfaced online.
Past Bachelor leads
The hit ABC reality dating series began in the early 2000s.
- Alex Michel (2002)
- Aaron Buerge (2002)
- Andrew Firestone (2003)
- Bob Guiney (2003)
- Jesse Palmer (2004) (Current Bachelor franchise host)
- Byron Velvick (2004)
- Charlie O’Connell (2005)
- Travis Lane Stork (2006)
- Lorenzo Borghese (2006)
- Andy Baldwin (2007)
- Brad Womack (2007 and 2011)
- Matt Grant (2008)
- Jason Mesnick (2009)
- Jake Pavelka (2010)
- Ben Flajnik (2012)
- Sean Lowe (2013)
- Juan Pablo Galavis (2014)
- Chris Soules (2015)
- Ben Higgins (2016)
- Nick Viall (2017)
- Arie Luyendyk Jr. (2018)
- Colton Underwood (2019)
- Peter Weber (2020)
- Matt James (2021)
- Clayton Echard (2022)
- Zach Shallcross (2023)
- Joey Graziadei (2024)
- Grant Ellis (2025)
However, they reconciled a month later and have appeared almost inseparable together until the breakup news emerged today.
Reacting to the news of the couple’s split online, fans expressed their shock: “Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James split up. My favorite couple to come out of a reality show. I thought they’d get married and have kids.”
“Not on my 2025 bingo card!!!! What the heck happened,” another viewer said”
“Whaaaaat! I did not expect this one. Kind of thought they were going to elope,” a Bachelor Nation member exclaimed.
While one more said: “I’m actually a little shocked… I genuinely thought they were gonna make it at least to the altar.
“But I found it odd that he hasn’t proposed to her by now. You can tell she was waiting for it.”
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Matt gives Rachael his final rose on The Bachelor season 25 finaleCredit: Getty
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Rachael and Matt discuss their breakup on After the Final Rose before rekindling their romanceCredit: Getty
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The couple traveled around the world together and documented their trips on social mediaCredit: Instagram / rachaelkirkconnell
