TV & Movies

Rachael Kirkconnell Reveals Matt James Didn’t Inform Her About Breakup Announcement

Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James
Manny Hernandez/Wireimage

Rachael Kirkconnell has revealed that Matt James did not inform her before announcing their breakup on social media.

During her appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast with Alex Cooper on January 28, Kirkconnell, 28, expressed how blindsided she felt when James, 33, posted about their breakup on Instagram on January 16.

“He didn’t even give me a heads-up, like, ‘Hey, I’m going to post this,’” Kirkconnell, who found love with James on season 25 of The Bachelor, shared. “It was painful to realize that my friends, family, and even my little sister found out this way. I didn’t get a chance to discuss it with them or process it privately for even a day.”

Though she described James’ actions as “f—– up” during the interview, Kirkconnell mentioned that they have communicated since the incident.

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The breakup announcement from James, who formed a connection with Kirkconnell on the reality show in 2021, included a photo of them together from The Bachelor alongside a caption that said, “Father God, grant Rachael and me the strength to heal our hearts. Provide us with peace regarding our decision to end our relationship that surpasses earthly understanding. Bless our friends and family with kindness and love to help us through this.”

Kirkconnell confirmed on the podcast that their breakup occurred “the same day” James’ Instagram post was made public.

In her podcast discussion, Kirkconnell explored what she believed to be James’ motivations behind the breakup post, admitting she remains puzzled by his choice. “I’m not sure if it stemmed from him being overwhelmed, if it was out of anger, or if he felt compelled to do it to truly finalize things,” she conveyed to Cooper, 30. “I do know he recognizes that it wasn’t the best decision.”

Kirkconnell and James initially separated shortly after filming The Bachelor, revealing their split during the After the Final Rose special in March that year. They reconciled one month later.

Related: Rachael Kirkconnell Breaks Silence on Matt James Split, Cheating Rumors

Rachael Kirkconnell is set to address her breakup with Matt James shortly before the release of her tell-all interview on “Call Her Daddy.” “It’s not something you can adequately prepare for. You just take it one day at a time,” Kirkconnell, 28, said in a video posted by the Instagram gossip account Deux Moi on January 28. […]

The second breakup took fans by surprise, especially considering that in October 2024, James had even hinted at the possibility of marriage during an interview on the “De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan” podcast.

“I believe that’s the next step,” James joked during the episode that also featured Kirkconnell. “After seeing so many of Rachael’s friends get engaged, I wouldn’t dream of looking for a ring without consulting Rachael first.”

Kirkconnell’s revealing “Call Her Daddy” interview recounted how she received a call from James at 1 a.m., less than a week after his breakup post.

“He simply asked how I was doing,” Kirkconnell told Cooper. “I responded with, ‘How do you think I’m doing?’ I confronted him about the post, and that’s when he admitted that he could have managed it much better. He apologized.”

Kirkconnell emphasized that she doesn’t want people to view James negatively. “But clearly, he made a mistake … I believe he feels remorseful about it,” she stated.

The podcast also highlighted Kirkconnell’s belief that James didn’t recognize compatible traits in her, which ultimately contributed to their breakup. “He mentioned that, in the end, there were aspects of me that he felt concerned about in terms of being a wife,” she detailed. “Ultimately, there were incompatibilities, and being accountable and expressing apologies was a significant factor in this.”

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