Rachael Kirkconnell is providing insight into her split from Matt James her boyfriend from "Bachelor". She clarified if cheating was a factor in their recent breakup.
Reality TV star Rachael was approached by photographers at LAX on Monday. She hinted that the truth about the breakup would come out eventually. She explained that she was "protecting her peace" at the moment.
When asked for more information particularly about cheating rumors online Rachael stated clearly that infidelity was not the reason for the surprising split.
However something happened between them. Rachael told photographers that she and Matt would not get back together in the future.
To emphasize her point she added "Definitely not. Yeah we're out. We're done."
Despite her cryptic message Rachael remained silent about the specifics of her breakup with Matt. She mentioned she would only discuss it when she felt ready. She indicated that the airport was not the right time but she had an appearance on "Call Her Daddy" that night.
Matt James's Breakup Announcement and Fans' Reactions: Social Media Post and Speculation
Rachael's statement comes almost two weeks after Matt surprised Bachelor Nation with news of his breakup with Rachael. In a post on Instagram Matt asked God to help them "mend our broken hearts". He then shared they had decided to end their four-year relationship.
Since Rachael and Matt seemed happy in a post from hours before fans wanted answers about what occurred.
However Rachael and Matt remained mostly quiet after the news broke until now. Stay informed for updates.
Rachael Kirkconnell's "Call Her Daddy" Interview: Real Reason for the Split and Future Plans
Rachael Kirkconnell has shared some insight into why she split from Matt James.
“He said that ultimately there were qualities about me that he worried about in a wife” Kirkconnell age 28 revealed during her “Call Her Daddy” podcast appearance. The episode premiered on Tuesday January 28. “Ultimately there are things that we are not compatible with and the whole accountability and saying sorry was really the main thing. It was one of those things where he I think just had this realization that ‘I should want to propose to you by this time. At this point in our relationship I should be wanting those things and I should be ready for that. But I’m not still I still don’t feel like we’re ready or I don’t feel like I’m ready. I don’t know if I ever see myself proposing to you. I cannot actually see myself married to you.’”
Kirkconnell remembered James saying that “one day” he would want to propose but did not feel ready.
“I told him I said ‘Well I feel like after four years you should know or you should feel ready. And if you don’t then that’s not good. We probably should not be together if you don’t feel like that after four years because you know me better than anyone. I know you better than anyone so you should know by now if you see this for the long haul or not'" she continued. She noted that James “did not think” she was his “perfect person.”
“He just did not want me to end up resenting him by wasting more of my time if it would not happen” Kirkconnell added. “He just said you know ‘You’re beautiful smart and funny and you will find you will find someone a guy that will love you for you.’ He just did not think that it was him. It was a lot to hear at once because a few days before you know I am hearing the opposite.”
Airport Comments and Initial Reaction: Protecting Peace Before "Call Her Daddy"
Hours before her “Call Her Daddy” interview was released Kirkconnell was stopped at an airport. She briefly spoke about her split from James age 33 for the first time.
“It’s nothing that you can prepare for. So you just take it one day at a time” she said in a video posted via the Instagram gossip account Deux Moi on Tuesday. “I think things will start to come out.”
Kirkconnell said she planned to speak about the split “whenever I am ready” which seemed to be when she was with “Call Her Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper.
“for now I am just protecting my peace” she added at the time. Kirkconnell also denied infidelity was the reason for their split. She noted there was no chance for reconciliation in the future.
Timeline of the Breakup: From Happy Posts to Sudden Split Announcement
James surprised Bachelor Nation earlier this month when announcing that he and Kirkconnell had split after four years together. Kirkconnell said during Tuesday’s “Call Her Daddy” appearance that he posted the announcement “a few hours” after breaking up with her.
“Father God give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding” he wrote on January 16. “Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you Lord.”
James shared a photo of himself and Kirkconnell from his Bachelor season which aired in 2021 along with the breakup announcement. The former couple left the season together but broke up before the finale aired in March 2021 because of Kirkconnell’s past racially insensitive social media activity. They got back together soon after.
Source Insights and Conflicting Desires: Commitment Issues and Marriage Expectations
“The split may seem sudden but this has been building for some time. It was expected eventually” a source told Us Weekly exclusively after their breakup news. “Matt just could not commit to her.”
The same source mentioned that it was “hard” for Kirkconnell to “trust” James.
“Rachael really wanted to get married and settle down and they were not on the same page” the insider added. “She felt like she was waiting around and he would never give her what she wanted.”
Matt James surprised "Bachelor" fans with a Jan 16 post announcing the end of his four-year relationship with Rachael Kirkconnell. she was on the "Call Your Daddy" podcast Tuesday.
Rachael's Shock and Reaction to Matt's Public Breakup Announcement: "Still in Total Shock"
Rachael Kirkconnell is giving out her last words on the relationship.
Two weeks after Matt James announced the couple had separated in a cryptic social media post the former The Bachelor contestant shared details on their surprising split. This included how she found out about his breakup announcement.
"I just could not believe it going to the airport" she told Alex Cooper on the Jan 28 episode of Call Her Daddy. "I was like 'What is happening?' We are literally getting ready to take off and my phone blows up. I am freaking out. Just got broken up with and now few hours later it is for the whole world to see."
Rachael admitted she is "still in total shock" about their breakup after four years together.
"When we would talk about things he always seemed like he was on the same page privately and publicly" she shared. "We talked about rings. He told me a few months ago to start saving some things picking things out. That is probably one of the saddest things about it."
Now Rachael explained that she is trying to process what went wrong.
As she said "I never knew if it was because there was something wrong with me or not wrong with me—I keep trying to tell myself that there is nothing wrong with me."
Instagram Activity and Fan Speculation: Denying Reconciliation Rumors and Acknowledging Support
Rachael’s comments came after she reacted to Matt’s Jan 16 post through her Instagram activity. The 28-year-old shut down suspicions of a possible reconciliation between them after a celebrity gossip account claimed they were seen together in New York City.
In a comment under the Jan 26 post Rachael denied the meetup writing “hmm was not me lol.”
Soon after the split became public Rachael also hinted at being surprised by the breakup under a Dec 5 Instagram birthday message to her ex. As fans speculated Rachael liked supportive comments.
One comment that got her attention wrote “I am so sorry.”
Another shared insight into how Rachael was doing after the news.
“The more I am thinking about it the more I think he completely blindsided her with this” another fan commented. “Give her some grace and let her respond in her own time.”
Matt has remained quiet since his initial post announcing the news. His post included a photo of the former couple first meeting during Season 21 season of The Bachelor.
Matt James's Previous Positive Comments and Future Family Plans: Contradiction to Breakup
“Father God give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts” the 33-year-old wrote in a Jan 16 Instagram post. “Give us peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding.”
Matt—whose mom Patty James appeared in the inaugural Golden Bachelor season—continued “Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you Lord.”
While Rachael has confirmed she was surprised by the breakup Bachelor Nation fans were not expecting it either. Matt had previously praised the couple’s relationship months before announcing their split. He even mentioned plans to start a family.
“She is my best friend” he told the TikTok account Meet Cute NYC in November. “There is nothing she would not do for me—just like the selflessness.”
Broader Context of Bachelor Nation Breakups: Relationship Status of Other Couples
Matt and Rachael’s breakup is one of many in Bachelor Nation. Other relationships continue. Here is a quick update on other franchise couples.
- Joan Vassos & Chock Chapple: Engaged.
- Jenn Tran & Devin Strader: Split.
- Victoria Fuller & Greg Grippo: Split.
- Johnny DePhillipo & Victoria Fuller: Split.
- Theresa Nist & Gerry Turner: Divorced.
- Joey Graziadei & Kelsey Anderson: Engaged.
- Kat Izzo & John Henry Spurlock: Split.
- Eliza Isichei & Aaron Bryant: Split.
- Aven Jones & Kylee Russell: Split.
- Charity Lawson & Dotun Olubeko: Engaged.
- Zach Shallcross & Kaity Biggar: Engaged.
- Danielle Maltby & Michael Allio: Split.
- Brandon Jones & Serene Russell: Split.
- Rachel Recchia & Tino Franco: Split.
- Susie Evans & Clayton Echard: Split.
- Michelle Young & Nayte Olukoya: Split.
- Maurissa Gunn & Riley Christian: Split.
- Demi Burnett & Kristian Haggerty: Split.
- Noah Erb & Abigail Heringer: Engaged.
- Serena Pitt & Joe Amabile: Married.
- Kenny Braasch & Mari Pepin: Married.
- Becca Kufrin & Thomas Jacobs: Married.
- Katie Thurston & Blake Moynes: Split.
- Tayshia Adams & Zac Clark: Split.
- Clare Crawley & Dale Moss: Split.
- Peter Weber & Kelley Flanagan: Split.
- Peter Weber & Madison Prewett: Split.
- Peter Weber & Hannah Ann Sluss: Split.
- Dean Unglert & Caelynn Miller-Keyes: Married.