When Matt James was cast as the lead of “The Bachelor,” fans were stoked.
After all,the contestants on Matt James' seasonwere enthusiastic about his personality.
To the shock and horror of many, red flags began to emerge in the couple’s fledgling relationship.
This discovery called into question everything from Kirkconnell’s character to her feelings for James.
Since then, things have not gotten easier for the couple.
If anything, more issues have emerged in their relationship.
Nevertheless, the romance between Kirkconnell and James imploded before their season had even finished airing.
Kirkconnell wore a long pink frock that clearly resembled the wardrobe of an antebellum-style Southern belle.
This incident causedfans worry about Matt James.
It also saw the public question Kirkconnell’s moral compass and her attitudes towards racism.
Onthe “After the Final Rose” television special, James explained his thought process to Emmanuel Acho.
After the breakup, many viewers assumed thatMatt James and Rachael Kirkconnell were unlikely to get back together.
Despite all of this, the couple’s story was not over.
The former couple continued to build their friendship at a distance.
And, as they talked more and more, they seemed to reach an understanding.
For many fans, the exes' chatting seemed to indicate a possible reconciliation.
In reality, however, James and Kirkconnell weren’t there yet.
According to Amerling, James asked her to meet him in Miami “for the night.”
However, as she wasn’t in the mood to go out, she turned him down.
If James was chatting up Amerling and Kirkconnell at the same time, this would serve as amassivered flag.
As Amerling herself told Reality Steve, “It just didn’t sit right with me.
I just felt like Rachael was so in love with him” (viaPeople).
Were they on the brink of getting back together, or were they just exploring a friendship?
Kirkconnell’s friends seemed to think that she and James were rekindling their romance.
However, a source from James' camp insisted toPeople, “They are not together.
He supports her as a friend.
He is not looking for a relationship.”
Unfortunately for James and Kirkconnell, this dissonance was a warning sign.
In his view, lacking this sort of agreement can negatively impact communication.
Interestingly, though, the duo’s transition from friendship to coupledom was not all smooth sailing.
That’s really all I needed.
It was an ultimatum that I needed."
At the time of the ultimatum, Kirkconnell and James seemed outwardly happy about getting back together.
In the same interview, James even labeled his relationship with Kirkconnell “great.”
They force a certain outcome, rather than allowing things to evolve naturally.
For James and Kirkconnell, starting out with an ultimatum was definitely a red flag.
While Kirkconnell dreamed of a shared future, James appeared happy with the status quo.
In 2023, James was asked byPeoplewhether or not he and Kirkconnell were contemplating an engagement.
The former “Bachelor” star replied, “There’s no pressure.
As a friend of the couple’s told theU.S.
Sunin 2025, Kirkconnell spent years hoping that her beau would pop the question.
Apparently, she even asked James to propose.
“I will say this, he wouldn’t commit.
As one source close to Kirkconnell revealed in an interview with theU.S.
They went out to restaurants and traveled to gorgeous places like Honduras.
On December 5, 2024, Kirkconnell even took toInstagramto celebrate James' birthday with a sweet montage.
In mid-January, James shared his own lovey-doveyInstagrampost of Kirkconnell enjoying a pizza in London.
But just hours later, he shocked fans witha break-up announcement.
“Father God, give Rachael and I the strength to mend our broken hearts.
Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship,” he wrote.
Unsurprisingly, his followers reeled with the quick transition between “happy couple” content and a separation announcement.
The people closest to Kirkconnell were also said to be caught completely off guard by the announcement.
And she thinks it’s just as weird as everyone else does.”
Even while they were splitting up, James and Kirkconnell might not have been on the same page.
Sun, the aforementioned source explained that James relied on Kirkconnell to make money on social media.
“That’s his business, that’s his livelihood.
Now that they have split, the interrelatedness of those two things could become even more complicated.
