Hours before announcing their split, Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell were seemingly enjoying a couples’ getaway in London.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 16, the former Bachelor, 33, revealed he and his girlfriend of four years had split in a shocking Instagram post.
He shared a photo of the two meeting on the show in 2020 along with a prayer, writing, “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. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord đź’”.”
The breakup especially blindsided fans given that James had posted a video with Kirkconnell, 28, enjoying a meal at a London pizza joint just 12 hours before.
Related: Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell’s Relationship Timeline
In a voiceover, he said he’d visited the pizza place on his own before and “had to bring” his girlfriend with him “for her to experience some of the best pizza I’ve ever had.”
Ethan Miller – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty
Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James attend Sports Illustrated Club SI ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas on November 17, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
James’ two other most recent posts are also from his and Kirkconnell’s trip to London, including a roundup of the “best matcha lattes” in the city, a visit to a burger spot and dinner at a handroll sushi bar, which he said was “by far the best” sushi the couple had in London.
It’s possible that James was delayed in sharing the posts, and the trip had concluded earlier, but the timing created further confusion about the nature of their breakup.
Kirkconnell had not posted from the trip to London, but her last Instagram post was a love-filled tribute for her boyfriend’s birthday.
Calling James “my best friend, my teammate, my sous chef, the man that has my whole heart,” Kirkconnell shared a compilation of sweet moments of the couple in a video.
“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,” she wrote.
Rachael Kirkconnell/Instagram
Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell
After meeting on The Bachelor in 2020, James gave Kirkconnell his final rose and the couple ended the season dating, but when photos of her attending an antebellum plantation-themed party surfaced online, controversy arose and the pair went their separate ways.
They rekindled their relationship after announcing their split on After the Final Rose and, in 2022, James told PEOPLE it “felt like the world was against us” when they got back together. “We were just trying to enjoy each other and grow our relationship without having to deal with people we didn’t even know weighing in,” he said of the “crazy” series of events that followed his season.
This time last year, James told PEOPLE he was “definitely excited for what the future looks like” with Kirkconnell as he discussed his plans to propose.
“We wouldn’t be together if that wasn’t the same goal,” he said when asked about an engagement in the future. “It is going to be something special because Rachael’s very special.”
Alexander Tamargo/Getty
Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James are seen during Tacos and Tequila with Andrew Zimmern and DJ Kim Lee on day one of Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival at Atlantis Paradise Island on March 14, 2024 in Nassau, Bahamas.
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Following the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, which James ran, the couple also appeared to be more in love than ever, as they were stopped by a viral social media account, meetcutesnyc, and gushed about each other.
“She’s my best friend. She’s my biggest advocate. There’s nothing that she wouldn’t do for me,” James said of Kirkconnell.
She returned the favor: “You just make everything brighter, for sure. He has a very, very bright personality and he makes me a better person.”
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