Rachael Kirkconnell, former winner of The Bachelor, has publicly shared that she was completely blindsided by her breakup with Matt James. Speaking out for the first time, she revealed that James ended their four-year relationship unexpectedly during a trip to Tokyo. The news was made public through an Instagram post by James, which Kirkconnell saw just moments before her 12-hour flight back home.
A Sudden End During a Tokyo Vacation
What was meant to be a romantic getaway quickly turned into a heartbreaking end for the couple. Kirkconnell, 28, explained on the Call Her Daddy podcast that the split came “out of nowhere.” The conversation happened after a tense dinner where she felt overwhelmed and emotional.
She recalled trying to find the perfect restaurant for James, a known food enthusiast, while also feeling unwell. At dinner, she shed a few quiet tears out of disappointment, but James remained silent. Later, back at their hotel, he brought up his concerns.
“He said that at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife,” Kirkconnell shared. She said he told her he didn’t see himself proposing and that he was worried about her being “emotional.”
Breakup Announced to the World via Instagram
Adding to her shock, Kirkconnell discovered their breakup was public knowledge not from James, but from his Instagram. He posted a throwback photo of them and a prayer asking for strength just before she boarded her flight, effectively cutting off her communication for the next 12 hours.
The post read, “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.”
James disabled comments on the post, leaving fans and followers confused and speculating. The announcement was especially jarring since he had shared a happy video of them in London only a day earlier, leading some to believe his account was hacked.
A Relationship with a Complicated History
The couple’s four-year relationship was not without its challenges. Their journey began on Season 25 of The Bachelor in 2021, where their romance captured viewers’ attention. However, they faced significant hurdles from the start.
- The Bachelor Finale: Matt James gave Rachael Kirkconnell the final rose but chose not to propose.
- First Breakup: Shortly after the show, James ended the relationship when racially insensitive photos from Kirkconnell’s past emerged online.
- Reconciliation: The couple reconciled a few months later and worked to move past the controversy, seemingly building a strong foundation.
Before the split, their relationship appeared solid. Kirkconnell’s last post about James in December 2024 referred to him as her “teammate” and “the man that has my whole heart,” making the abrupt ending even more stunning.
Friends and Family Left in the Dark
It wasn’t just fans who were caught off guard; Kirkconnell’s loved ones were also confused by the public and sudden nature of the breakup. A source close to her revealed that her friends and family were “trying to get to the bottom of what happened.”
“She’s humiliated that’s how the news came out,” an insider told The US Sun. Kirkconnell subtly confirmed her feelings by “liking” an Instagram comment that suggested she was blindsided by James. For now, James has remained silent beyond his initial post, leaving Kirkconnell to tell her side of the sudden and public split.
