Matt James' Shocking Family Plans With Rachael Kirkconnell Before Split

Matt James had dreams of being a dad before his breakup with Rachael Kirkconnell.

Following the surprise breakup announcement from the former Bachelor student, who stunned Bachelor Nation, an old interview emerged showing he intended to start a family with his 28-year-old partner only a few months ago.

In a TikTok shared by Meet Cutes NYC on November 3, Matt expressed, “We’ll be a family together,” to which Rachael responded with a playful, “Please stop! You’re going to make me emotional.

Besides his hopes of fatherhood, the 33-year-old heralded Rachael as his “best friend.”

He went on to say, ‘She stands up strongly for me.’ In fact, there’s no limit to what she’d do for me, such is her unselfishness.

In the meantime, it appeared that Rachel, who seemed to hint at their breakup through certain social media actions, couldn’t help but express her affection for her boyfriend at the time, mentioning numerous qualities she admired about him.

I find that his presence illuminates my world,” I confess. “His vibrant character not only lights up the room but also inspires me to grow and become a better version of myself.

Matt, who made history as the first Black male lead on the Bachelor franchise, revealed on January 16 that he and Rachael had decided to end their relationship. They met and fell in love during season 25 of the reality show, which was broadcast in 2021.

Dear Heavenly Father, grant Rachel and me the fortitude to heal our wounded spirits. Give us a tranquility regarding our choice to part ways, a serenity that surpasses human comprehension.” (Instagram post caption)

However, the grim announcement sparked surprise since it followed just hours after the latest video series showcasing the ex-pair’s food tour in London. Moreover, Rachael’s recent post on her Instagram, which remains unchanged, is a heartfelt birthday tribute to her former partner.

She expressed her gratitude in a December post, saying, “It’s such a joy to dance our way through life together.” She thanked him for his unending love, encouragement, kisses, and hugs.

Keep scrolling for updates on other couples who found love on the Bachelor franchise.

Status: Engaged

Joan Vassos, who became famous on the first season of ‘The Golden Bachelor’ and left Gerry Turner’s season prematurely, later starred on the premiere season of ‘The Golden Bachelorette’. It was during this show that she encountered and became engaged to contestant Chock Chapple.

Speaking on the finale of ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ in November 2024, Joan expressed that no matter what life’s challenges may be, there is always hope, even at their advanced age. She went on to say this in Bora Bora as Chock proposed: “I waited for this special moment in this breathtaking location to tell you that I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I look forward to waking up next to you each morning and kissing you goodnight.

Status: Split

In the season finale of “The Bachelorette” (season 21), it appeared that former contestant Jenn Tran, aged 26, might find her perfect match in Devin Strader. However, Jenn disclosed during “After the Final Rose”, which was broadcast in September, that Devin, also 28, started ignoring her after the cameras stopped rolling.

During the September 3rd show, Jenn explained to host Jesse Palmer that the man she was involved with would declare passionate love one day, only to disappear and deny his feelings the next. According to her, the affection he claimed to have for her was no longer present.

As an over-the-moon fan, I can’t help but be captivated as Devin unfolds his perspective in a riveting 13-minute video on Instagram. Not only does he acknowledge his role, but he also delves deeper into the reasons that led to our heartbreaking goodbye, during a soul-baring 15-minute phone conversation.

Instead of Jenn claiming he ended their relationship over the phone in August, he stated that Jenn asked him why things were wrong and wanted him to tell her in person, which is when he decided to end it.

He said, “I wasn’t quite sure what other option I had,” explaining that he’d wanted to discuss it with her face-to-face first. “In a way, she made me reveal it sooner than planned.

Ever since that magical moment, I’ve been completely captivated. Jenn has gracefully glided her way onto Dancing With the Stars, and it seems like she might have found a special place in Sasha Farber’s heart as well. From the moment they were eliminated on October 29th, whispers of romance between them have only grown louder.

Status: Split

In November 2022, Greg Grippo, who was one of Katie Thurston’s suitors on The Bachelorette the previous year, appeared alongside Victoria Fuller in the finale of Bachelor in Paradise season eight. During their time there, they declared that they were in a relationship. However, by April 2024, he confirmed that they had ended their relationship.

Before Victoria Fuller and Greg Grippo made their relationship official during the final episode of Bachelor in Paradise’s eighth season, her engagement with fellow cast member Johnny DePhillipo had already come to an end.

Status: Divorced

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist got engaged in November 2023 during the final episode of the first season of “Golden Bachelor,” and they officially married in a live television wedding ceremony in January 2024.

However, three months after their nuptials, the couple announced that they were breaking up.

As a lifestyle expert looking back at my journey with Theresa, I’ve had some deep, meaningful discussions with her, and we’ve taken a long, hard look at our lives together. After much thought, we’ve collectively decided that it seems best for both of us to part ways and move forward separately. This was a decision we made mutually during our appearance on Good Morning America in April 2024.

They reached a divorce settlement in June 2024, according to court records reviewed by TopMob News.

Status: In a Relationship
Tennis pro Joey Graziadei has found his ideal partner after wooing 32 other prospects. The fortunate lady is project manager Kelsey Anderson. During the March 2024 finale, he confessed to his chosen one, “I can’t hold back any longer; I love you.” With a heartfelt proposal, he got down on one knee. “There’s something unique about you,” Joey shared, “Your energy is contagious and always puts a smile on my face. It’s an emotion I’ve never experienced before.” Picturing his future with the Louisiana native, he added, “I had envisioned a wonderful life for myself, but it wasn’t until I met you that I truly understood how amazing life could be.

Status: Split

Despite not initially connecting until halfway through season nine of ‘Bachelor in Paradise’, underwater welder John Henry Spurlock and nurse Kat Izzo took a leap of faith. John proposed with an Ascher cut Neil Lane diamond, expressing his feelings by saying, “I’m going to try something a little different today. My heart tells me that you are amazing, you are everything I’ve been searching for.”

However, just days after the season finale, they announced their separation. “Although our paths are diverging due to differing career goals,” they wrote in a joint Instagram post, “we are thankful for the love and support we’ve received from our families, friends, and ‘Bachelor Nation’.

In the end, after an oceanfront proposal from Aaron Bryant, Eliza Isichei (one of Clayton Echard’s former partners), dressed in white and a bit anxious about her upcoming engagement, agreed to it. Delighted by Aaron’s thoughtful gesture of consulting her mother for approval, she expressed, “I had no idea what I was going to say next.”

The closing scene acknowledged that Eliza and Charity (her ex and marketing manager) had faced some challenges post their return from Mexico, and a few days later, they revealed that they had called off their engagement. On Instagram in December 2023, Charity shared his feelings: “It was complicated watching everything unfold. We’re handling our amicable split with nothing but positive vibes and mutual respect for each other.

In a recent turn of events, postpartum nurse Kylee Russell found herself accepting a proposal from her boyfriend Aven Jones on Bachelor in Paradise, despite his previous reluctance to propose. This unexpected move came after Aven had reportedly been prepared to pop the question while courting Bachelorette Rachel Recchia.

Kylee decided to set aside her plans for an engagement dress, stating, “I just had to do what I felt was right.” In her own words, “Love is all about taking risks.”

Two days after their finale aired in December 2023, Kylee shared on Instagram Stories that their relationship had come to an end due to multiple instances of infidelity. Aven later issued an apology to Kylee, acknowledging his mistakes and the pain he had caused her by saying, “I have made major mistakes in the relationship and hurt someone who was very close to me.

Charity Lawson playfully shared her delight with TopMob News about the successful outcome of this season, but it was a modest understatement of the grand finale in August 2023. Integrative medicine specialist Dotun Olubeko knelt down and declared their love as “perfect,” proposing to Charity, who is a child and family therapist, by asking if she would make their fairy tale come true.

Although the details of their wedding have yet to be decided (with possibilities of 2025 or 2026), Charity will first grace the dance floor on Dancing With the Stars. On The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose, Dotun enthusiastically told Charity, “You like to dance and get down, right? We’ve talked about how amazing this opportunity would be. So I’m thrilled to announce that you’ll be competing on Dancing With the Stars! Let’s do this!

Status: Set to Wed
Zach will have a blissful future ahead. Although he faced some challenges during the Fantasy Suite, Zach Shallcross concluded season 27 in March 2023 on bended knee. “I am deeply in love with you,” he expressed to travel nurse Kaity Biggar. “You are my universe. The affection I have for you surpasses anything I could have ever imagined.”
In July 2023, the couple from Texas moved a step further in their relationship, as Kaity posted on Instagram, “Now officially housemates.” They’re currently busy planning their October 2025 wedding vows.

The current situation is: Separated.
In simpler terms, originally, Danielle Maltby and Michael Allio from ‘Bachelor Nation’ appeared to be ideal couples. However, after Danielle moved from Nashville to Ohio to be with Michael, they announced their separation. Michael discussed their split on an episode of Jason Tartick’s podcast in September 2023, stating, “We invested a lot into this relationship and it’s heartbreaking when it doesn’t work out. When things don’t work out, when you realize that love is there but compatibility is lacking, you mourn not only the person and friendship, but also the future you had imagined.

Brandon Jones expressed his love for Serene Russell during their appearance on season seven of Paradise, stating that he would love her until the end of time. However, just five months after their engagement, they announced their separation in a joint statement posted on Instagram in May 2023. The couple acknowledged that maintaining their relationship privately had been extremely difficult given public scrutiny and expressed their pain and asked for understanding instead of hate.

Status: The relationship between pilot Rachel and general contractor Tino Franco encountered a halt when he kissed another woman during the airing of their 2022 season. On “The Viall Files”, he admitted, “I in no way condone my actions. It was unfair to Rachel and something I deeply regret. It continues to haunt me daily. I feel ashamed and if given the chance, I would have handled it differently a million times over.

The situation: Split

In simple terms, it’s clear that things didn’t work out as planned. Susie Evans, during the 2022 finale, turned down Bachelor Clayton Echard‘s proposals, but later reconnected with him off-camera. However, six months after their reunion, they split up again.

But don’t worry, Susie explains that their separation was for the best. In a November 2022 post on her blog “Susie Was Like”, she wrote, “Those around me could see that my radiance had faded and I was far from flourishing.” She admitted that they “experienced many joyous moments, but beneath the surface, I was struggling and felt out of sync with the best version of myself.

After dating Justin Glaze from Bachelor Nation, Susie later confirmed that their relationship had ended as well, in August of 2024.

As a die-hard Bachelor Nation fan, I can’t help but share the latest update on my all-time favorite couple! Michelle, the Minnesota elementary school teacher, got a Neil Lane sparkler from Texas sales exec Nayte Olukoya and a $200,000 check for their future home. However, despite these grand gestures, they couldn’t find the right connection, announcing their split six months after their season finale in December 2021.

On The Viall Files, Nayte admitted there were many ups and downs, plenty of arguments, fights, and simply not seeing eye-to-eye with Michelle. Even though he acknowledged that not having the final breakup conversation in person was a less than ideal move, it’s clear they weren’t meant for each other.

Fast forward to 2023, Michelle started dating Jack Leius and announced their engagement in the following year. Here’s hoping this time around, Michelle finds her happily ever after!

The pair Maurissa Gunn and Riley Christian, who charmed viewers with their shared vision of peaceful Sunday mornings during BIP season seven, were unfortunately only able to spend a few weekends together. In a joint statement issued in January 2022, the duo, coordinated by Maurissa (who had a relationship with Peter Weber) and attorney Riley (one of Tayshia Adams’ suitors), announced that they have decided to part ways. They never anticipated this situation, but they have reached a point where they both need to focus on their personal growth independently.

Status: Split

On the sixth season of “Bachelor in Paradise,” the first same-sex couple became engaged, however, they revealed their separation in October 2019, which coincided with Halloween.

In a heartfelt post on Instagram, they expressed that love and concern for each other have been the cornerstone of their relationship. They prioritize doing what serves them best. With deep affection, they’ve made the difficult decision to step back from their relationship. Essentially, they seek what benefits them most in the long term, and at this point in time, that means growing separately.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share an update: Despite parting ways during season seven of the BIP in Mexico, Noah Erb and Abigail Heringer found that their connection was more profound than ever. After initially settling in San Diego, they recently made a significant move, purchasing a home in Tulsa – his hometown.

Abigail expressed her excitement about this new chapter in her life on Instagram back in July 2023, saying, “Getting ready to enter our Chip and Joanna Gaines era because your girl just bought her very first house!!!” She continued, “Thrilled to start our next chapter and for all the memories we’ll create here!!”

Preparations for their wedding are already underway. Prior to their move, Noah proposed at a beautiful beachfront home in San Diego in August 2023.

In informal and easy-to-understand language:

Status: Married

Before their grand wedding in September 2023, Serena Pitt (a finalist on Matt James’ season) and Joe Amabile (the Chicago grocery store owner who gained popularity after being sent home by Becca Kufrin night one in 2018) decided to take a practice run. They opted for a small city hall ceremony close to their New York City residence, about a year after leaving Bachelor in Paradise engaged.

“JUST MARRIED !!” Serena, who now co-hosts the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast with her husband, captioned an October 2022 video. “We’re still having a wedding this September, but who wouldn’t want to get married twice?

Kenny Braasch, a boy band manager, declared his deep love for Mari Pepin as he presented her with a Neil Lane diamond ring on the finale of Paradise in 2021. He expressed that he can’t imagine his life without her. As a result, Mari, a former Maryland beauty queen who had initially caught Matt’s eye, moved to Kenny’s hometown, Chicago, and began planning their future together. Before their wedding, which took place in an oceanfront ceremony in Puerto Rico in November 2023 with 65 guests, they made their love permanent by getting matching tattoos during a trip to the Bahamas in May 2023.

Status: Married

Previously on Bachelor in Paradise season seven, Becca Kufrin and Thomas Jacobs, a contestant from Katie Thurston’s season, started dating, broke up during the show, but reconciled post-production. They announced their engagement in May 2022, with Becca proposing to Thomas. Speaking to TopMob News, she expressed hope that others would feel empowered to break traditional rules. In October of the same year, Thomas reciprocated by returning the favor. In September 2023, they welcomed their first child, a son named Benson. Becca shared on Instagram, “Words cannot express the love and awe we have for this tiny man.” Just weeks after the arrival of Benson, the couple tied the knot in an impromptu ceremony on October 13th.

Status: Split

In the season finale of ‘The Bachelorette’ in 2021, Katie got engaged to Blake Moynes. They expressed their affection for each other during their overnight date that included a paintball adventure, a cowboy bathtub, and a chat under the night sky.

Bending down on a knee, Blake expressed to Katie, “You’re worthy of the whole world, and I’m thrilled about standing by your side and offering my support each day from now on.

Three months following the broadcast of their proposal, the pair disclosed their separation. In identical statements, they expressed, “We appreciate the precious moments we experienced together and the incredible journey that unfolded throughout this past year. However, after careful consideration, we’ve realized that we are not well-suited as life partners. It is the kindest decision for us to move ahead separately.”

Now, she is betrothed to comedian Jeff Arcuri.

Current Status: Separated
Since Matt and graphic designer Rachael Kirkconnell parted ways during his 2021 season (following a temporary split and subsequent reconciliation), they have faced numerous breakup speculations.

“I believe everyone needs to take a break from social media,” the ex-Bachelor shared exclusively with TopMob News at a July 18 Baskin-Robbins event. “Our lives are so much centered around our phones that when anyone takes a break from being on their phone all the time, people think it’s an apocalypse.”

In fact, Matt mentioned marriage as the ultimate goal for them.

“I think the advantage of our relationship is we move at our own pace,” the author of First Impressions: Off Screen Conversations With a Bachelor on Race, Family, and Forgiveness told TopMob News in May 2022. “And you’ve seen with other couples—they rush the engagement and they’re no longer together. So, I think what we have is a successful formula and we’ll get there.”

However, less than three years later, Matt confirmed their separation.

“Father God, grant Rachael and me strength to heal our broken hearts,” the reality star wrote on Instagram Jan. 16, 2025 alongside a throwback photo of them on The Bachelor. “Grant us peace about this decision to end our relationship that surpasses worldly comprehension. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to console us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord.”

Status: Split

Following Clare Crawley’s 2020 season of The Bachelorette, Tayshia became acquainted with Zac Clark and developed feelings for him. Despite exiting her season as an engaged couple, Tayshia later disclosed that their relationship encountered some highs and lows.

She expressed on the “The Ben and Ashley I. Almost Famous” podcast in August 2021 that it can be challenging to maintain a new relationship when you have to step away for a few weeks. She was being straightforward and candid about her feelings.

Later on, she expressed, “It seemed as though we needed to recall the reasons behind our relationship. I believe this is entirely ordinary.” However, in November 2021, TopMob News reported that they had parted ways.

Status: Split

During season 16 of ‘The Bachelorette’, Clare developed a profound affection for Dale Moss. So much so that by the fourth episode, they were engaged. However, further surprises unfolded as Tayshia, who replaced Clare later, also found love and got engaged herself. Yet, weeks afterward, Dale announced on social media that his romantic journey with the hairdresser had ended.

A month later, whispers of reconciliation swirled around them as they were seen together. Jump ahead to July 2021 – after numerous reunions – Clare and Dale were solidly back together, complete with an engagement ring. However, in September, they split up again. Now, Clare is blissfully married to Ryan Dawkins and they’re anticipating their first child together.

Status: Split

Following a short engagement with winner Hannah Ann Sluss and later a separation from runner-up Madison Prewett, fans had high hopes for Peter finding lasting love on his third try. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be between him and The Bachelor season 24 star Kelley Flanagan, as the pilot revealed on New Year’s Eve 2020 that their nine-month relationship had come to an end.

Though our time together was marked by many cherished moments, unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned in the long run,” Pete shared on Instagram. “Kelly remains someone I hold a deep affection for.

In 2022, they made another attempt at flying together, but it was revealed in May that their love story had come to an end.

Status: Split

After the intense 2020 conclusion, they revealed on Instagram that their romantic journey had come to an end. Peter expressed, “Madi and I have decided to go our separate ways, not continuing our relationship further.” It wasn’t easy for either of them to accept this decision, but after many open conversations, they agreed it was the best choice for both parties. The affection and regard I hold for Madi will persist.

In her statement, Madi expressed, “I’ll always hold affection and admiration for him. I firmly believe that our lives were destined to intersect, and we’ve both grown for the better due to it.

Status: Split

During The Bachelor’s season 24, Peter and Hannah Ann were temporarily engaged. However, in the second part of the final episode, it became clear that they were facing challenges a month into their commitment. More specifically, Hannah Ann was taken aback by the fact that Peter still harbored feelings for Madison from an earlier stage of the show.

In my own words, I’ve always yearned for someone who would offer their entire heart as I am offering mine to them. Unfortunately, that’s the trust I placed in you that was broken, as you ended our first engagement. It’s painful because I believed in you, and I still ask for patience and faith from me.

Current Status: Married
They’ve traveled quite a distance from their #vanlife days. Though Dean Unglert (one of Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay’s finalists) and Caelynn Miller-Keyes, who had a romantic connection with Colton Underwood, parted ways during season six of Paradise in 2019, they’ve been inseparable since then.
Engaged in 2022, the former beauty queen exchanged vows with her Help! We Suck at Being Newlyweds podcast cohost at a camp-themed wedding in the Colorado mountains on Sept 23. “I just love him so much,” Caelynn shared with TopMob News before the ceremony. “I’m simply thrilled to be marrying someone who is such a wonderful person, who makes me laugh every day even when I’m upset. I believe our life together will be really enjoyable.

2025-01-25 02:51

Matt James’ Shocking Family Plans With Rachael Kirkconnell Before Split

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