Matt James Makes First Public Appearance Since Announcing Split with Rachael Kirkconnell

Matt James was spotted in public for the first time after shocking Bachelor fans with the announcement that he and Rachael Kirkconnell split after four years together.

The former reality star, 33, had a grin on his face while braving the chilly weather during a New York City stroll on Tuesday, January 28, according to photos obtained by Us Weekly.

Matt has not commented on his breakup with Rachael, 28, since announcing they were done in a January 16 Instagram post.

“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding,” he wrote next to a photo of the couple meeting for the first time on The Bachelor season 25. “Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord.”

The same day Matt was out and about in New York City, Rachael appeared on Alex Cooper‘s “Call Her Daddy” podcast’s January 28 episode.

The Georgia native opened up about how the former couple fell in love on The Bachelor, the challenges they faced during their relationship and how she was “blindsided” by Matt announcing their split while she was on a 12-hour flight from Japan to the United States.

“I wanted to do this for me,” Rachael said of her decision to break her silence. “I just really wanted to do it just to help myself move on and get some closure. I just feel like after four years and after all this craziness, something just needed to be said.”

Matt’s final rose recipient didn’t get an engagement ring at the end of season 25, but the duo did agree to keep dating once the show ended. After a brief breakup due to a racism scandal in March 2021, Matt and Rachael got back together and she said he began warming up to an engagement in 2024.

“I think, at first, I could tell [marriage] was something that did scare him a lot or it was a really hard thing for him to talk about, and it just seemed easier and easier [to talk about] as our relationship went on, so I felt like that was a good sign,” she explained to Alex. 30. “I think when he started talking about kids and picking out a ring and wedding food and where we want the wedding … I used those things to just hold on.”

“We talked about rings. He told me a few months ago to start saving some things, picking things out or that we should go look at some. That was a big deal, I would say, for him to say,” Rachael continued.

However, their relationship unraveled during a trip to Tokyo, Japan. Rachael said she became emotional over dinner when she felt the restaurant she chose was unsatisfactory for Matt to be able to shoot Instagram content.

“He was concerned about me getting so upset. He was trying to tell me, ‘There was no reason for you to get upset like that.’ He found it concerning that I got that emotional, I guess. He was just trying to express to me, ‘If you get emotional about little things like this, what is going to happen in life when something really terrible happens? How are you going to be able to react to things that are actually really scary or disappointing or sad?’” Rachael told Alex.

The Bachelor Nation member thought they sorted things out and said Matt had a change of heart about their relationship the following day.

“He said that at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife. At the end of the day, [he said] there are things that we aren’t compatible with,” Rachael recalled.

“It was just one of those things where [I] was like, ‘Do you want to make this work?’” she continued. “‘Do you think that it’s me or is it something with you? Are you scared or is it really me? Is your perfect person somewhere out there? Is it not me?’ And he came to the conclusion that he didn’t think it was me, and he said he just didn’t want me to end up resenting him by wasting more of my time if it wouldn’t happen.”

“He just said, ‘You’re beautiful, smart and funny and you’ll find someone, you’ll find a guy that will love you for you.’ He just didn’t think that it was him. But it was just a lot to hear at once because a few days before I’m hearing the opposite,” Rachael said of Matt’s decision about their future.

The former reality star said she was further humiliated when Matt decided to announce their split to the world without consulting her first and as she was flying from Tokyo to Atlanta, Georgia.

“So then, literally the plane is taking off and I see his post, and that’s it,” she stated. “I don’t have any service or anything for the next 12 hours, so I’m freaking out because, you know, just got broken up with and now, a few hours later, it’s for the whole world to see and I’m still trying to process it.”

After pouring her heart out, Rachael thanked fans for their support in a Wednesday, January 29, Instagram Story.

“Just wanted to say thank you for the love and support. Everything feels scary and discouraging right now but I believe everything happens how it is meant to and I know it will all be OK,” she wrote. “It’s a blessing to be able to feel things and let them hurt. Life is a messy and beautiful thing, and I am thankful for all of the ups and downs it brings. Love you guys.”