Matt James And Rachel KirkconnellIt is Bachelor the love story was a journey – on and off screen.
ABC named Matt as the lead for season 25 in June 2020, subsequently revealing that the series had received a record number of nominations from contestants. Among the 38 women who had the opportunity to meet Matt was Rachael, a graphic designer from Georgia. Even if she didn’t receive the coveted first impression rose (Abigail Heringer did), she caught Matt’s attention the first night. (Season 25 of The Bachelor filmed at Nemacolin Resort in fall 2020 and premiered in January 2021.)
While Matt and Rachael dropped L-bombs on the show, she made headlines for her past racially insensitive actions, including photos of her at an “Old South” themed frat party in 2018 The controversy intensified afterwards. Chris Harrison asked fans to have “grace” for Rachael as they navigate the scandal. The Georgia native broke her silence in February 2021, two days after the host’s interview and more than a month since she was initially criticized. Rachel’s mother, Kim Kirkconnell, also defended her daughter and hinted at how the situation could affect their potential happy ending.
“If he picks Rachael and supports her, then you know Matt really loves her,” Kim said. The Sun. “If he chooses Rachael and then leaves her, then it wasn’t supposed to happen, and there’s someone else out there for her.”
During The Bachelor: After the Final Rose In March 2021, fans learned that Matt and Rachael had called it quits while the show was on the air. A month later, the two rekindled their relationship. Matt and Rachael dated for four years before announcing their separation in January 2025.
Scroll for a full timeline of Matt and Rachael’s relationship:
