'The Bachelor' Couple Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Confirm They've Broken Up

Since meeting on The Bachelor in 2020, Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell have been navigating their relationship in the public eye. Rachael won Matt's season amid some controversy, and while they chose to stay together after the finale, they opted not to get engaged at that time.

The couple briefly broke up after photos surfaced of Rachael at a college Antebellum-themed party, but they later rekindled their romance and have been inseparable ever since.

In the years following their reconciliation, Matt and Rachael have traveled the world together and frequently appeared on each other's social media. So, how are they doing now? Are they still going strong? Unfortunately, we have some sad news to share…

In an unexpected turn of events, Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell have called it quits. The former Bachelor leading man shared the sad news in an emotional Instagram post, offering a prayer for healing.

"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," he wrote in the caption. "Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord 💔"

Accompanying the prayer was a photo of Matt and Rachael meeting for the first time on The Bachelor, a moment that many fans of the show will surely recognize. He tagged Rachael in the post but turned off the comments, likely in an effort to maintain privacy during this difficult time.

Matt's most recent post on his Instagram Story was less somber, featuring several pizza pies with his location tagged as London, suggesting he was keeping busy and focusing on other aspects of his life.

As of now, Rachael has not publicly commented on the breakup. Her last Instagram post, shared on Dec. 5, 2024, was a heartfelt birthday tribute to Matt.

In the post, she lovingly wrote, "Happiest of birthdays to my best friend, my teammate, my sous chef, the man that has my whole heart," she captioned her post. "You fill it (and my tummy) with so much love and laughter and I'm so thankful I get to dance through this life with you. Thank you for your never-ending love and support and smooches and snuggles. To many more adventures, happy birthday my pumpkin ♡."

The news of Matt and Rachael's breakup comes just four months after Matt shared an optimistic relationship update with Distractify. At the time, he spoke about how their connection had deepened significantly since The Bachelor, largely due to the quality time they spent together away from the limelight.

"Our relationship has grown since the show because we have spent concerted time getting to know each other off-camera and experiencing life together," he explained.

In addition, just a few months earlier, in February 2024, Matt had spoken with People about his future with Rachael, revealing that he was excited about the possibility of an engagement.

"We wouldn't be together if that wasn't the same goal," he told the outlet. "I'm definitely excited for what the future looks like with us."