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Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell, who met on the 2020 season of The Bachelor, have announced their breakup after four years of being together. Matt, 33, shared the sad news on Instagram on January 16, saying in a heartfelt prayer, "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 đź’”."
Along with the post, he shared a photo of the couple when they first met on the show. Matt tagged Rachael, 28, in the post but turned off the comments. In his next post on his Instagram Stories, he shared pictures of various pizzas and indicated he was currently in London.
Rachael has not posted about the breakup. Her last video, shared in December, was a birthday tribute to Matt, calling him her "best friend" and expressing gratitude for their time together. She wrote, "You fill it (and my tummy) with so much love and laughter."
The couple met in 2020 on The Bachelor. Rachael won Matt’s season, but their relationship faced controversy after old photos emerged showing her at an Antebellum-themed party during her college years. This led to a brief breakup, with Matt, who was the show's first Black Bachelor, speaking out on the issue. The controversy involved The Bachelor host Chris Harrison defending Rachael, which led to Harrison’s departure from the show.
Despite this rocky start, Matt and Rachael got back together in May 2021 and worked through their differences, even traveling the world together in the following years. In 2022, Matt shared with PEOPLE how much they had grown in their relationship. “Everything that we've been through has prepared us for the future,” he said, adding that while the situation felt difficult, they focused on growing as a couple and enjoying each other.
As recently as February 2024, Matt told PEOPLE that he was still focused on engagement as a future goal with Rachael, emphasizing the importance of going at one's own pace in a relationship.
Despite their efforts, the couple has now decided to part ways. Matt’s message asks for peace during this difficult time and for privacy as they both heal.
