Rachael Kirkconnell, known for her appearance on season 25 of The Bachelor, expressed her surprise following the unexpected breakup with Matt James. The couple, who had been together for four years after meeting on the reality show, recently parted ways. Matt James announced their separation on Instagram on January 16, leaving Rachael overwhelmed and emotional. In a candid interview with Alex Cooper, Rachael shared her unanticipated reaction to the split and the events that led to the end of their relationship.
Matt James's decision to announce their breakup on social media came as a shock to Rachael Kirkconnell. Just hours after the breakup, he posted a video on Instagram, a move that caught Rachael off guard. In her interview, she mentioned that she had not made any public statements regarding the separation, stating:
"Still haven't made a statement or anything because I'm processing this just like everyone else is." – Rachael Kirkconnell
The couple had recently traveled to Tokyo, where a disagreement occurred. Despite the incident, Rachael did not foresee a breakup. She remarked:
"I didn't think anything serious. I really didn't. I just was annoyed with him, that's all." – Rachael Kirkconnell
Rachael Kirkconnell revealed that Matt James cited concerns about certain qualities she possessed that worried him about having her as a wife.
"He said that at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife." – Rachael Kirkconnell
This revelation was particularly painful for Rachael, who had envisioned a future with Matt.
"That's probably one of the saddest things about just picturing your life with someone and thinking that is how your life's gonna look, and now it's just all taken away." – Rachael Kirkconnell
The couple's relationship faced numerous challenges from the start. During their time on The Bachelor, they experienced significant pressure from producers and fans. Matt James expressed dissatisfaction with how producers handled his season, stating that they "missed the mark." Additionally, Rachael found herself in a difficult position when past photos emerged of her wearing a culturally insensitive costume at an antebellum plantation-themed college event. She publicly apologized for these photos, acknowledging the need for accountability.
"the whole accountability and saying sorry and all that" – Rachael Kirkconnell
Despite these hurdles, the couple appeared committed to working through their issues. According to Rachael, they had even discussed engagement plans.
"We talked about rings. He told me a few months ago to start saving some things, picking things out that we should go look at." – Rachael Kirkconnell
Yet, Matt ultimately felt unprepared for marriage, leading to the breakup.
"I feel like after four years you should know or you should feel ready. And if you don't, then that's not a good thing. We probably shouldn't be together." – Rachael Kirkconnell
Following their separation, Matt James posted a photo of the two on Instagram, captioning it with sentiments about healing their broken hearts. This gesture added another layer of complexity to their already emotionally charged breakup.
