Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Announce Split Four Years After Her Win on The Bachelor

Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell have officially ended their relationship, PEOPLE reported. James, 33, shared the news through an emotional prayer on Instagram on January 16. In his post, he wrote, "Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Provide us peace about our decision to end this relationship. Shower our friends and family with love to comfort us."

Accompanying the heartfelt post was a photo of the couple's first meeting on The Bachelor. James tagged Kirkconnell, 28, in the image and disabled comments. His following Instagram Stories featured several pizza pies while he marked his location as London.

Kirkconnell did not release a statement on social media. Her last post was from early December, celebrating James's birthday. She wrote, "Happiest of birthdays to my best friend, my teammate, my sous chef. You fill my life with so much love and laughter. Thank you for your endless support and hugs. Here’s to many more adventures, happy birthday my pumpkin."

The couple first met during season 25 of The Bachelor in 2020. Controversy surrounded Kirkconnell after images of her at an Antebellum-themed college party surfaced. Despite the scandal, the couple initially opted to date rather than pursue an engagement at the show's finale. Their relationship faced challenges, particularly after James became the first Black Bachelor.

In May 2021, James and Kirkconnell announced they had rekindled their romance. In May 2022, James spoke to PEOPLE about their healing journey. "I've learned a lot. Everything we've been through has prepared us for the future," he stated.

James reflected on the difficulties surrounding their relationship, emphasizing how external opinions impacted their bond. "It felt like the world was against us. Some thought the situation was exaggerated; others felt it mattered too little. We just wanted to enjoy each other and grow our relationship," he noted.

The couple has shared experiences across the globe, regularly featuring in each other’s social media posts. James expressed his commitment to engagement as a goal for their relationship as recently as February 2024. He remarked on the importance of pursuing their own pace, emphasizing that outside pressures could disrupt a relationship.

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