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Rachael Kirkconnell met Matt James during a season of 25 o The Bachelor and following the show, their relationship was full of fun and excitement.
While the 2021 season of the ABC series was airing, the Georgia native came under fire for photos posed in an antebellum-style dress during a fraternity trip. Before Kirkconnell addressed the pictures, then-host Chris Harrison He came to her defense during an interview with a former student Rachel Lindsayasking the audience to have “grace” to the competitorhe knew he ended up winning the season. (The scandal broke in February 2021, a month before the finale was revealed.)
The situation led to James breaking up with Kirkconnell before the game After the Final Rose special that March. While the two reconciled later that year, the network cut ties with Harrison and the alum Jesse Palmer take over the gig.
Kirkconnell released her first release on February 11, 2021, writing via Instagram that her actions were “not acceptable” and that her “ignorance is racist.” During a candid chat with the season 25 co-star Bree Springswhich finished as the runner-up for James’ season, in October 2022, Kirkconnell said her initial apology “fired” and claimed the show “pushed” her into writing the statement.
Kirkconnell recalled going “deceitful” and making a second lengthy apology video after James ended their relationship because she had nothing to lose. She shared a third statement when her followers started coming for Lindsay and James instead of focusing on her mistakes.
After reuniting in spring 2021, James wrote a book about his time as the first Black Bachelor, criticizing the series for what they chose to air. Speaking about their relationship with the franchise in July 2022, Kirkconnell said Us that the couple is rooting for everyone from “afar.”
Despite saying he has plans to propose in the future, James announce their split via Instagram in 2025.
Keep scrolling for more of Kirkconnell’s comments about her time on the show:
