Bachelor spoilers continue to change and new developments have just occurred, so if you thought you knew how Matt James' 2021 season of The Bachelor ends based on spoilers you've previously read or heard, think again!
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A shocking new update on Matt's post-finale relationship with his winning The Bachelor bachelorette has been revealed.
[Bachelor Spoilers Warning: Stop reading now if you don't want to find out whom The Bachelor star Matt James ended up with at the end of his 2021 season of The Bachelor and if he is still in a relationship or engaged to his final pick].
Spoilers on Matt's Final 2 bachelorettes remain unchanged
According to Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone, Michelle Young and Rachael Kirkconnell finished as Matt's Final 2 bachelorettes."I was told 'Michelle and Rachael were final 2,'" Carbone wrote in a January 4 blog post.
Carbone later revealed in a January 21 blog post that Bri was Matt's third-place finisher and was eliminated after the overnight Fantasy Suite dates.
Carbone also reportedly got Matt's winner right from the start
Matt eliminated Michelle before the final Rose Ceremony and then selected Rachael as his Season 25 winner at the Final Rose Ceremony, according to Carbone.In his January 4 blog, Carbone had insisted he was "positive" Michelle did not win Matt's heart -- although he wasn't entirely convinced by his sources that Rachael had won at the time.
"If you believe everything coming out of the small town of Cumming, GA, then it's Rachael Kirkconnell [who won]," Carbone explained.
"Because for the last month, all I keep being told out of Cumming is that Rachael won, and all her friends and family know and they're telling everyone... If she did [win], she, her family, and her friends are doing an awful job of keeping it secret."
Carbone added, "I'm not 100 percent sold on it yet, but, I'm just telling you that's the one I've heard most."
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RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
But in his subsequent January 21 blog post, Carbone announced he had received confirmation that Matt had, in fact, handed out his final rose to Rachael.
"I got the confirmation I needed about this seasons spoiler: Matt chose Rachael and is still with her," he wrote.
"I know it's been out there, but I don't base my spoilers on what anyone else reports. Never have, and never will. Been hearing it was her for a while but never felt fully secure saying with certainty he chose her."
Matt and Rachael didn't get engaged at the final Rose Ceremony
On February 2, Carbone reported that Rachael and Matt did not get engaged at The Bachelor season's final Rose Ceremony."Matt did not propose to Rachael. They are still together today though," he wrote in a blog post.
"Everyone will basically say this relationship has zero chance because it doesn't have that 'label' of engagement, even though that's never mattered in the past since so many don't make it any way," Carbone added.
"But I can already tell you him not proposing will immediately have people giving the hot take that these two won't make it. I mean, I don't think they will either, but not because he didn't propose."
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According to a recent update from Carbone, Matt gave Rachael "a promise ring" rather than an engagement ring.
Matt and Rachael were also reportedly still a couple as of February 17 even though her racism scandal had already been making headlines for more than a month at that point.
Earlier this month, Rachael finally broke her silence and released a lengthy apology for prior offensive and racist behavior -- including being photographed at a college "Old South" Antebellum-themed frat party -- that came to light and surfaced online after The Bachelor premiered on ABC in January.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
Given the widespread media coverage Rachael's racism scandal has attracted, some viewers had been wondering whether Matt and Rachael's relationship would last and survive the storm.
"They are still together," Carbone reiterated in a February 17 blog posting of Matt and Rachael's relationship status.
"Matt and Rachael are still together and will be come [After the Final Rose]. I don't see that changing. After that? Anybody's guess," he added later in the blog post.
"Just think of how hard it is to make it as a couple in this franchise when everything is great and America loves you. Matt and Rachael don't have much support publicly, they're living through the biggest scandal this show has ever seen, and they can't address it publicly for another month. Gonna be real tough for these two to make it in the long run.
However, according to new spoilers Matt and Rachael split up recently!
"Breaking news last night... We all know Matt picks Rachael in the end, but after last night, well, they are no more," Carbone wrote in a February 23 blog post.After the Huffington Post reported Matt and Rachael's breakup on February 22, Carbone said he was able to confirm the news.
"Matt and Rachael broke up within the last week. I don't have an exact day, and I don't have any details as to why, but judging by Matt's [Instagram] post yesterday, I get the sense that the guy was put in a no-win situation," Carbone explained.
"So basically no matter what he did, he was going to take some heat. If he sticks this out and shows up with Rachael on the ATFR as a couple, it'll be 'how is [he] not affected by what she did?' Now they've broken it off, it'll be 'why couldn't he stand by her?'"
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The special's scheduling marks a difference from The Bachelor's other recent seasons -- although given The Bachelorette's recent fall season didn't feature any After the Final Rose special, it's unclear how big a role Rachael's racism scandal may have played in the decision versus other factors like the ongoing pandemic.
Chris Harrison will also not be hosting the special as he recently decided to "step aside" from the franchise for "a period of time" after he sparked an outrage by defending the allegations against Rachael prior to her public apology.
"Before you ask, as of now, I don't know who will be hosting. Nor do I know what they plan on doing, what the format will be, etc," Carbone said.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Carbone speculates anything could happen on After the Final Rose and he is unable to provide specific details at this time.
"Because the breakup is so new, when these two see each other again, does some reconciliation happen? Is there any way they make it through this?" Carbone questioned.
"Does Matt possibly have the balls to ask Bri or Michelle for a second chance? Does he leave solo?... Will there even be an audience? I'm not sure. But this sure is gonna be messy. I can't remember the last couple that couldn't even make it to their ATFR taping."
Carbone still stands by the fact, however, Matt and Rachael never got engaged. Carbone insisted in his February 23 blog that Matt gave Rachael a promise ring at the final Rose Ceremony.
"A promise to stay together 3 months? Whatever the case, that's what we're getting at the end of this season," Carbone claimed.
"A lot obviously came about post filming, all stuff Matt had no clue about while he was falling for Rachael and ultimately choosing her. It's really going to be interesting seeing what Matt says is the reason for the breakup with Rachael."
The spoiler blogger guessed that Matt probably broke it off with Rachael due to all the negative press surrounding the bachelorette.
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"Accusations have been out there since the night of the premiere 2 months ago. Like, WTF? Why now?... There's a lot of questions out there that definitely need to be answered."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
