Rachael
Kirkconnell
&
Matt
James

Status:
Split

In
the
years
since
Matt
and graphic
designer Rachael
Kirkconnell
left
his
2021
season
together
(then
briefly
split
and
eventually
reunited),
they’ve
faced
many
a
breakup
rumor. 

“I
think
everybody
needs
to
take
a
break
from
social
media,”
the
former
Bachelor

exclusively
told
E!
News
at
a
July
18
Baskin-Robbins
event. “Our
lives
are
lived
so
much
in
front
of
our
phones
that
when
anybody
steps
out
of
being
on
their
phone
24/7,
people
think
it’s
the
end
of
the
world.”

In
fact,
Matt
said
marriage
remains
the
end-game
for
the
pair.

“I
think
the
good
thing
about
our
relationship
is
we
go
at
our
own
pace,”
the

First
Impressions:
Off
Screen
Conversations
With
a
Bachelor
on
Race,
Family,
and
Forgiveness
author

told
E!
News
in
May
2022. “And
you’ve
seen
with
other
couples—they
force
the
engagement
and
they’re
not
together
anymore.
So,
I
think
what
we
got
is
a
working
recipe
and
we’re
gonna
get
there.”

But
less
than
three
years
later,
Matt
announced
he
and
Rachael
split.

“Father
God,
give
Rachael
and
I
strength
to
mend
our
broken
hearts,”
the
reality
star
wrote
on

Instagram
Jan.
16,
2025
alongside
a
throwback
photo
of
them
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.”