Rachael Kirkconnell Hints Matt James Regrets How Their Breakup Went Down
During Season 25 of The Bachelor in 2020, Matt James met Rachael Kirkconnell. After dates, flirts, ceremonies, a hometown visit, a dash of drama, and plenty more, the season ended with James giving Kirkconnell the final rose, which was the start of what was seemingly was an on-again, off-again relationship, with a sprinkle of—you guessed it—more drama.
Fast-forward to January 2025, and James broke up with Kirkconnell after being together for four years. The breakup seemingly came out of left field. Fans—along with Kirkconnell—seemed quite shocked and dismayed.
Rachael Kirkconnell Was "Surprised" About Her Split With Bachelor Matt James
When Kirkconnell appeared on Call Her Daddy, the Bachelor alum shared with Alex Cooper that she felt pretty blindsided by James publicly announcing their breakup.
"I'm still in total shock," Kirkconnell told Cooper. "I think that's why I didn't say anything. Still haven't made a statement or anything because I'm processing this just like everyone else is."
Kirkconnell also opened up to PEOPLE about her breakup, saying she was "surprised" it happened.
"The whole thing's just been really weird because one, I didn't expect anything at all. Then, two, just the way he went about it and the way it was so public was really hard to deal with and go through the motions. It was one of those things where I'm not registering," Kirkconnell said.
RELATED: The 'Summer I Turned Pretty' Season 3 Just Dropped a Glimpse of Belly's New Era
Kirkconnell Hints James Regrets How Their Breakup Went Down
Fast-forward again to March 2025, when Kirkconnell opened up even more to Us Weekly.
"I definitely think it was still out of nowhere. And I do think that whether there was either some regret [regarding] the breakup in the first place—or at least the way that it was handled—that's probably there [on his end] if I had to guess or if I had to say without saying," 28-year-old Kirkconnell told the outlet.
She dubbed the split "a blessing in disguise," stressing the mentality that "everything happens for a reason."
"I'm a very firm believer in thinking that it was a blessing in disguise and everything happens for a reason, and that that's just something that needed to happen in my life. I don't even know for what reason, but I'm trusting it. I'm trusting the process. I'm doing good and things are OK. As sad as it is, it happens for a reason," Kirkconnell said.
RELATED: Bella Hadid Just Revived the Steamiest Swim Trend of All Time
Will Kirkconnell Be On This Season of Bachelor in Paradise?
Bachelor in Paradise, the spinoff of the series, is scheduled to return this summer. Although the host, Jesse Palmer, told Us Weekly that Kirkconnell and James are both welcome to come to paradise, it does not sound likely that would happen. At least, not where Kirkconnell is concerned.
"I don't know if I'm able to date someone within the franchise again," Kirkconnell told Us Weekly. "I don't know if I can do that again. Listen, I'm never going to totally shut the door on anything. That's not me, but I also feel like it's pretty soon and I don't think I'm ready for that."
She added, "Maybe you won't see me on the beaches of Paradise, but you might see me on the beaches elsewhere, just a vacation by myself with a dress on."
