Rachael Kirkconnell is speaking out about her shocking breakup with Matt James after four years together. The former Bachelor winner shared that their split happened unexpectedly during a trip to Tokyo earlier this month, leaving her blindsided. James, on the other hand, seemed to have already made up his mind, citing “compatibility issues” and concerns about marriage.
A Sudden End in Tokyo
Kirkconnell, 28, opened up about the breakup on Tuesday’s episode of Call Her Daddy, revealing that James, 33, dropped the bombshell during what was supposed to be a romantic vacation.
“It was definitely out of nowhere,” she said. “He said that at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife.”
The news came as a shock to Kirkconnell, who claimed she had always been the one to apologize in their disagreements, even when she wasn’t at fault. She believed they were in a stable place, only to be told that James didn’t see himself proposing to her—now or possibly ever.
The “Heat of the Moment” Breakup
The emotional split followed a seemingly normal dinner date that quickly turned tense. Kirkconnell recalled feeling overwhelmed that night as she struggled to find the perfect restaurant for James, who is known for his food reviews. On top of that, she had just started her period and was physically exhausted.
When they finally sat down to eat, disappointment set in. “It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be,” she admitted, saying she started tearing up at dinner—not in a dramatic way, but just a few quiet tears.
James barely reacted. He stayed silent through the meal, only bringing up his concerns later at the hotel.
“I tried to hug him, but he wasn’t receptive,” she said. “He told me he was worried about me being emotional and that he just didn’t see us working out long-term.”
A Breakup Announcement via Instagram
Adding to the sting, Kirkconnell only found out James had made their breakup public through an Instagram post just before her flight back to the U.S. She saw his message—one that included a prayer asking for strength—moments before losing service for the 12-hour flight.
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 had written alongside a throwback photo of them from The Bachelor mansion in 2021.
He disabled comments on the post, tagged Kirkconnell, and left the internet buzzing with speculation. Fans initially thought he might have been hacked, especially since he had shared a happy video with Kirkconnell in London just a day before.
Friends and Family Left Confused
Even those close to Kirkconnell were caught off guard. A source told The US Sun that her loved ones were “trying to get to the bottom of what happened” since she allegedly had no idea James was going to make the breakup public.
“She thinks it’s just as weird as everyone else does,” the insider said. “She’s humiliated that’s how the news came out.”
It didn’t take long for Kirkconnell to hint at feeling blindsided. She quietly “liked” an Instagram comment that read, “The more I’m thinking about it, the more I think he completely blindsided her with this.”
Relationship History: A Love Story with Bumps
Kirkconnell and James met on Season 25 of The Bachelor in 2021, where he gave her the final rose but didn’t propose. Soon after, their relationship hit its first major roadblock when past racially insensitive photos of Kirkconnell resurfaced online, leading James to call off the romance.
Months later, they reconciled and appeared to have moved past the controversy. Their relationship seemed to be back on track—until this sudden breakup.
Kirkconnell last posted about James in December 2024, calling him her “teammate” and “the man that has my whole heart.” Just weeks later, that love story came to an abrupt, very public end.
James has yet to comment further on the split, but Kirkconnell’s side of the story makes it clear: she never saw it coming.
