On Jan. 16, 2025 “The Bachelor” star Matt James announced an abrupt breakup with Rachael Kirkconnell (winner of his season). The couple had been dating since the season finale on March 15, 2021. They spent a total of four years together.

The Bachelor season did not end in an engagement, rightfully so, since you only know the person for six weeks people applauded the couple for taking things slower. However, James still could not propose after four years together which started to trouble Kirkconnell during their third year together, when she started to ask questions about where their relationship was going.

Before the breakup, the two were on a trip to Tokyo–Kirkconnells favorite city– having a seemingly normal vacation. The two had small arguments throughout the trip, that ultimately led to the couple calling it quits.

Kirkconnell expressed that their relationship seemed to be headed toward engagement, a wedding, and a family. While she was on a podcast “Call Her Daddy” Kirkconnell stated, “It was definitely out of nowhere. He said that at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife.”

The two seemed to be on the same page about their relationship until James abruptly ended things during their time in Tokyo before a 12-hour flight together. After describing the breakup, Kirkconnell stated, “I can’t stick around after that, even if I want to, even if it’s hard for me to let go. I love him so much and I wanted him to be my partner but when someone says that to you, you have to give it up at that point.”