AceShowbiz - "The Bachelor" star Matt James split from his girlfriend, Rachael Kirkconnell, after they had been dating on and off since 2020. The surprising news broke out on Thursday, January 16 when Matt, 33, posted a heartfelt breakup announcement on Instagram, accompanied by a picture of the moment he and Rachael, 28, first met on The Bachelor.

"Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding," he wrote.

He added, "Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord," followed by a broken heart emoji. Matt also tagged Rachael in the post and disabled the comments, preventing fans from voicing their confusion directly.

Rachael's reaction was one of complete shock and humiliation, according to sources close to her. She was reportedly unaware that Matt was going to make the announcement public, and "definitely wouldn't have approved of it if she did," a source told The U.S. Sun. "She's humiliated that's how the news came out," the insider added.

The timing of Matt's post left fans scratching their heads, especially since he had only hours earlier commented on several TikTok videos, praising Rachael's beauty and discussing future wedding plans.

He also shared videos of their recent trip to London, making it appear as though the couple was still together at the time of the breakup announcement. However, insiders clarified that the pair had already been apart, and Matt's posts were designed to maintain social media engagement.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that, while Matt was the one who announced their breakup, it was reportedly Rachael who had decided to end the relationship. "She was the one who pulled the plug, full stop," a source explained, noting that Matt "knows what he did." This sentiment was echoed by Rachael's family, who are currently focused on supporting her through this difficult time.

The couple's tumultuous relationship has had its fair share of ups and downs. They initially met on the 2020 season of "The Bachelor", where Matt, the show's first Black lead, opted for a relationship rather than an engagement.

They briefly split in 2021 following controversy surrounding Rachael's attendance at a plantation-themed party, but they reconciled just a month later. Despite their efforts to make the relationship work, it seems their journey has come to a definitive end.

As fans react to the news, many share their disbelief and disappointment. Comments from supportive followers poured in on Rachael's last Instagram post, with one noting, "Girl-you deserve so much better than this!" and another expressing, "I'm actually a little shocked... I genuinely thought they were gonna make it at least to the altar."