Rachael Kirkconnell, who emerged as the winner of season 25 of "The Bachelor," recently opened up about her relationship and subsequent breakup with Matt James, the franchise's first Black male lead. Kirkconnell and James met while filming the show in 2020, but their romance came to an unexpected end in mid-January. The breakup, which Kirkconnell described as "still out of nowhere," left her feeling "pretty sad" as she believed it "didn’t have to go down the way it did."
The couple's journey was marked by controversy, largely due to the challenges faced by James as the franchise's groundbreaking lead. He termed the series of events surrounding their season as "incredibly disappointing." Despite their strong connection on-screen, the relationship ended abruptly just hours before James announced the split on Instagram.
Kirkconnell revealed that James expressed doubts about their future together, stating he "'can't actually see myself married to you.'" She further shared that James had concerns about certain qualities he found worrisome for a potential wife. Reflecting on the breakup, Kirkconnell mentioned, "He said that at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife."
Despite the emotional toll of the breakup, Kirkconnell remains open to new possibilities, though she is hesitant about returning to reality television romance. "I don't know if I can do that again… Listen, I'm never going to totally shut the door on anything," she stated. Her reluctance extends to potentially dating someone within the Bachelor franchise again. "I don't know if I'm able to date someone within the franchise again," Kirkconnell admitted.
The couple's split also coincided with a period of personal reflection for Kirkconnell, particularly following the resurfacing of old photos showing her in a racist costume and at an antebellum plantation-themed college event. She issued a public apology for her past actions.
While Wells Adams suggested that both Kirkconnell and James should consider returning to the Bachelor franchise, Kirkconnell has not indicated any interest in such an opportunity. She also declined to comment on whether she would be open to starring on "Bachelor in Paradise."
Throughout this challenging period, Kirkconnell emphasized the importance of mutual support in relationships. "Having someone that supports you and uplifts you the same way you do them is a non-negotiable from here on out," she remarked.
