What Happened To Matt James & Rachael Kirkconnell After The Bachelor Season 25?

The Bachelor season 25 couple Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell had a beautiful relationship on the show, which was later marred by accusations of racism, but they found their way back to each other, and a lot has happened to them since they became a couple. Matt, who's now 33 years old, made history as the first Black Bachelor lead. He was best friends with Hannah Brown's Bachelorette runner-up Tyler Cameron, and he appeared on the show as a supportive friend to Tyler.

Matt was then chosen to be a contestant on Clare Crawley's Bachelorette season in 2020. However, when the show was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was instead selected as the star of The Bachelor season 25. It was there that he met Rachael, who's now 28, and they fell in love. However, things have changed drastically for them since their relationship began. Here's an update on what happened to Matt and Rachael since they appeared on the show.

Matt & Rachael Didn't Get Engaged During The Bachelor Season 25 Finale

Matt & Rachael Felt An Immediate Connection

The Bachelor season 25 filmed from October 10-November 21, 2020 at the Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and aired from January 4-March 15, 2021. Matt and Rachael told each other that they were falling in love with each other early in the season on their one-on-one date. They continued to build their relationship during their hometown and Fantasy Suite dates. During the final rose ceremony, Matt chose Rachael over his runner-up Michelle Young, who later became the star of The Bachelorette season 18.

Although Matt and Rachael fell in love, he decided not to propose to her. During the final rose ceremony, he told her that when he thought about the life that he wanted to live, he thought about living that life with her. He said that he wanted to leave with her and commit to her. Matt concluded by telling Rachael that he loved her, something that they'd both said to each other earlier in the season. He then gave her the final rose.

Matt & Rachael Dealt With Racist Allegations After The Show

Rachael's Controversial Past Led To Their Breakup

While The Bachelor season 25 was airing, Rachael received backlash when some controversial photographs and online activity from her were revealed that were racially insensitive. First, a TikTok user accused her of being racist in high school. Then, it came to light that Rachael had liked Instagram photos that showed people smiling in front of Confederate flags. Finally, it was revealed that Rachael had attended an antebellum-themed fraternity party in 2018.

During the Bachelor season 25 "After the Final Rose" episode (shared via the Bachelor Nation YouTube channel), Matt and Rachael shared that they'd parted ways after the accusations against Rachael were revealed. Matt, whose mom is white and dad is a Black Nigerian, held hands with Rachael as he shared that the thing that disappointed him most was that he had to explain to her why her past actions were problematic. He realized that she might not fully understand what it means to be Black in America, and he wondered what that would mean for their future children.

Matt shared that it broke his heart when he saw those things that were floating around the Internet about Rachael because he didn't sign up to have that conversation. Matt said that he knew that he had to take a step back and allow her to put in that work. Rachael apologized to him.

Matt & Rachael Got Back Together

They Dated For The Next Four Years

Although Matt and Rachael's relationship seemed to be over, they reconnected after the show. They got back together in April 2021, and had a happy relationship. After the controversy, they worked on their relationship in private, and they overcame any obstacles that were in their way.

Matt and Rachael are foodies who traveled around the world together, documenting their adventures with food on their social media pages. She also supported him during his 2021 Dancing With The Stars season 30 run alongside his professional dance partner, Lindsay Arnold. However, Matt and Rachael were constantly being asked about when they'd get engaged.

In a February 2024 interview with People, Matt shared that he's excited for what the future looks like for him and Rachael, and that they wouldn't be together if they didn't have the same goal of getting engaged some day. Matt said of the proposal, "It's going to be something special because Rachael's very special."

Matt & Rachael Broke Up After Over 4 Years Together

Matt's Cryptic Post Was A Shock

On January 16, 2025, Bachelor Nation was shocked when, on Instagram, Matt announced that he and Rachael had broken up. Matt posted a photograph of himself and Rachael holding hands as they met on The Bachelor season 25 premiere night.

Matt captioned the post, "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. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord [broken heart emoji]." He tagged Rachael in the post and turned off the comments.

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. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord.

The news came as such a shock to fans that some of them speculated that Matt's Instagram account was hacked or that the post was a prank, which would eventually be followed by Matt and Rachael announcing that they'd gotten engaged or even married. However, when no further comment was made by either Matt or Rachael that day, it became clear that the breakup was most likely real.

On January 17, Rachael seemed to confirm the split from Matt by liking comments made by fans on her December 5, 2024 birthday tribute post to Matt, which included a montage of clips of them together as a happy couple. One comment that she liked read, "The more I'm thinking about it the more I think he completely blindsided her with this. Give her some grace and let her respond in her own time." Although it seemed as though Rachael was blindsided by her split from Matt, a source told Us Weekly that she wasn't caught off guard by the breakup, but rather Matt's post about it.

Another confusing aspect of Matt and Rachael's split was the fact that he'd shared a post from a trip to London with her the day before he posted about the breakup. According to Us Weekly, TikTok sleuth Gabby White shared a video stating that she knew that the London content was probably sponsored, but the timing of post was strange considering that he posted the breakup just one day later. One of her followers responded in the comments section that, even if the London content was sponsored, he could've edited Rachael out of it or not liked and responded to comments about her in the post.

However, Rachael's sister, Trinity, shed some light on the timeline of the breakup in the comments section of Gabby's post. She revealed that Matt and Rachael were still together when he posted the London content. Gabby then followed up her original TikTok with another video in which she claimed that Matt uploaded his breakup post to Instagram just three hours after he and Rachael broke up. Surely more information about Matt and Rachael's split will come out in the future.

It's very surprising that Matt and Rachael have broken up, especially since everything seemed great between them shortly before Matt announced their split. While their relationship got off to a rocky start, they spent the next four years building something beautiful. They were one of only four out of 28 Bachelor couples who were still together (the others are Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici, Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar, and Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson). Matt and Rachael are both wished the best as they go their separate ways.

The Bachelor season 29 starring Grant Ellis premieres on Monday, January 27 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.

Sources: Bachelor Nation/YouTube, People, Matt James/Instagram, Rachael Kirkconnell/Instagram, Us Weekly, Us Weekly