AceShowbiz - Recent actions by former "The Bachelor" lead Matt James have left fans puzzled. The 33-year-old deleted his Instagram post announcing his breakup with longtime girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell, just over two weeks after initially sharing the news.

The original post, made on January 16, was a heartfelt plea for strength and peace amidst their decision to part ways. "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..." James had written.

The pair first met during Matt's tenure as the Bachelor in 2021. Despite not ending the season with an engagement, they chose to continue their relationship off-screen. However, their journey was marred by controversy, especially surrounding resurfaced photos of Rachael at a racially insensitive event. The scandal led to their brief split before they reconciled three months later.

James' recent decision to delete the breakup announcement comes after much backlash and speculation. Rachael revealed in a recent episode of the "Call Her Daddy" podcast that Matt posted the breakup announcement merely hours after they decided to end things.

She felt blindsided, noting she had no opportunity to inform her friends and family prior to the public post. "He didn't even text me to give me a warning," she remarked. "It just hurt to know that's how my friends found out and my family and my little sister."

She also opened up about a date that had gone wrong. Without explaining what exactly happened at the restaurant, she recalled having a meltdown because the place didn't live up to her expectations. When James confronted her, she told him she felt guilty because he's a food blogger and she had chosen a bad place. He assured her it's not a big deal, but it did little to appease her.

While fans speculated the possibility of reconciliation, Rachael confirmed she has no plans of rekindling the romance. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, she discussed the difficulty of adjusting to life after the split but was steadfast in her decision to move on.

"It's only been a few weeks, but I'm definitely in that phase of just, like, still trying to grasp everything… Breakups are normal; they happen to everyone," she said resolutely. Adding further, she stated, "There's just no way I'm letting myself" consider a reunion with James.

As for Matt, he seems to be focusing on new adventures, sharing updates of his travels to Kenya on social media. His account, while scrubbed of recent posts with Rachael, continues to give followers a glimpse into his current life, hinting that he is determined to move forward. Amid all the drama, one thing remains clear: both Matt and Rachael are seeking healing and a new start apart from each other.