The Bachelor alum Matt James and girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell have broken up and called it quits on their relationship after four years of dating.
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Alongside a photo of Matt meeting Rachael on Night 1 of The Bachelor's 25th season, which filmed in late 2020 and aired in early 2021 on ABC, he wrote, "Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts."
Matt continued, "Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding."
The former The Bachelor star concluded his post, "Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord."
Matt added a broken-heart emoji and tagged Rachael in his post.
Matt and Rachael's split appears to have just happened, unless they had decided to keep the news under wraps for a while.
Earlier this week, Matt posted videos of his recent trip to London with Rachael, where the pair had checked out a pizzeria, sipped on matcha lattes, and chowed down on burgers.
And right before that, the pair had traveled to Aspen together.
In December 2024, Rachael had also penned a beautiful message to Matt on his birthday, suggesting their relationship was still going strong.
"Happiest of birthdays to my best friend, my teammate, my sous chef, the man that has my whole heart," Rachael wrote at the time.
"You fill it (and my tummy) with so much love and laughter and I'm so thankful I get to dance through this life with you. Thank you for your never ending love and support and smooches and snuggles. To many more adventures, happy birthday my pumpkin."
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In October 2024, Matt teased how an engagement was "the next step" with Rachael during a joint appearance on the "De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan" podcast.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
But Matt suggested he wasn't going to pick out just any diamond ring for his The Bachelor 25 winner.
"Having had so many of Rachael's friends go through engagements, I wouldn't dare go look at a ring without consulting Rachael first," Matt quipped.
"That's the problem," Rachael noted. "I don't even know what I want."
And Rachael agreed that Matt needed to check with her before making such a large purchase and ultimately popping the question.
"I have the finger ready," Rachael joked on the podcast. "I feel that's definitely something we want. I'm on his time... I definitely need to go find a ring I like and everything."
But Rachael said that once she picked out a ring she loved, it would be on Matt to do the rest at that point.
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"I've been hinting at marriage for a very long time," Matt said. "I don't think Rachael is taking my hints seriously."
Rachael, who currently resides in Georgia with family and friends, and Matt, who lives in Florida, have been making the distance work.
"We do spend more time in Georgia than Florida, but I wouldn't mind living in Florida. I do have family in Florida, and I don't think he'd want to put roots down in Georgia, so I would be okay with going to Florida," Rachael explained at the time.
"I'd rather be in that climate than a cold one. I'd much rather be in Miami than New York."
Matt also joked about how he could envision himself being a stay-at-home dad, taking care of the kids.
The former The Bachelor star looked at Rachael and added, "So I'm going to empower you... [to] start your own brand."
Rachael laughed off Matt's comment and revealed that she was also ready to have kids.
"I'll say this, I love the idea of getting married and having that commitment to one another, and kids and family really excite me," Rachael stated.
"But, the idea of planning a wedding really puts me off. Sometimes I'm, like, 'Let's just elope.'"
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
In July 2024, Rachael said on Matt's YouTube page how she had envisioned herself being pregnant in the next five years.
Matt -- who was sitting right next to Rachael when she dropped the bombshell -- responded, "I agree! No, that's not shocking!"
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Rachael smiled big and elaborated, "Yeah, I feel like I'll be ready to be a mom at that point. I mean, if it happens tomorrow, great."
Matt went on to clarify, "I want to have kids, and I want to have multiple kids. So hopefully at this point in five years, we have, you know, one [in our arms] and one on the way."
Rachael concluded, "Whatever God gives us!"
Matt gave his final rose to Rachael on The Bachelor's Season 25 finale, but they proceeded to have a two-month split in early 2021.
Matt and Rachael briefly split in February 2021 during Rachael's memorable racism controversy, which resulted in former The Bachelor host Chris Harrison and ABC agreeing to part ways.
But Rachael was extremely apologetic, and so she and Matt reconciled in April 2021 and have been going strong as a couple ever since April 2021.
Matt teased in February 2024 that he and Rachael were happy doing things at their own pace.
The former The Bachelor star explained at the time, "If you do things that other people want you to do and you don't consider y'all's feelings, then I think that is a recipe for disaster."
But Matt said his marriage proposal to Rachael will be "special" -- not on the couch at home -- when that time comes and he's "definitely excited" about the idea of taking their relationship to the next level.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
