If you’ve been keeping up with the messiness that is Bachelor Nation, you know that Matt James hasn’t exactly had a linear path when it comes to romance. For years, the question of who Matt James' girlfriend was had a very consistent answer: Rachael Kirkconnell. They were the golden couple that survived the "un-survivable" season. But then, things took a turn that basically nobody saw coming.
Honestly, it's kinda wild. They spent four years building this life together—traveling to London, eating their way through Europe, and posting those insanely curated food reels that made everyone hungry. And then, on January 16, 2025, it just... ended.
The Breakup Post That Shook Everyone
Matt didn't go the traditional route of a joint PR statement. Instead, he posted a prayer on Instagram. It was religious, it was public, and apparently, it was a total surprise to Rachael.
She later went on the Call Her Daddy podcast and dropped some serious truth bombs. According to her, she found out about the public announcement while she was literally at the airport, heading for a 12-hour flight. No heads up. No "hey, I'm posting this." Just a notification like everyone else. That’s gotta be a tough pill to swallow after four years of "teammate" and "best friend" talk.
Why did they actually split?
For a long time, fans thought an engagement was right around the corner. Matt had even hinted at it in interviews, saying they were "on the same page." But once the dust settled, the real issues started leaking out:
- The Marriage Gap: Rachael was ready for the ring. Matt, apparently, was not. There are rumors he "dangled" the idea of marriage without ever intending to pull the trigger.
- Living Arrangements: Despite what it looked like on TikTok, they never actually moved in together. Matt was firm on not living together until marriage due to his faith, which kept them in this constant state of "visiting" rather than building a home.
- Communication Breakdown: The way the breakup was handled suggests they weren't exactly talking things through toward the end.
Who is Matt James dating now?
As of early 2026, Matt seems to be leaning hard into his "solo era." If you follow him, you know his feed is almost exclusively about two things: marathons and massive plates of food. He’s been traveling, doing his ABC Food Tours work, and generally staying away from the dating spotlight.
Is he seeing someone new? There hasn’t been a confirmed Matt James girlfriend since the split. He’s been linked to various fitness influencers and runners in the NYC scene, but nothing has stuck or been made official. He seems content just being the "running guy" for now.
Meanwhile, Rachael has described herself as "chronically single." She’s been open about how hard it is to jump back into the dating pool, especially after such a public relationship. She even joked on a podcast that she hasn't been on a single date since the January breakup. It’s relatable, honestly. Dating in the public eye sounds like a literal nightmare.
The Antebellum Controversy Legacy
You can’t talk about Matt and Rachael without mentioning how it all started. Their season was historical for all the wrong reasons. Rachael’s past photos at an Antebellum-themed party caused a massive rift, led to Chris Harrison leaving the show, and caused Matt to initially dump her before the After the Final Rose special even finished airing.
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They got back together later in 2021, and for a while, it seemed like they had done "the work." But looking back now, some critics argue that the pressure to be a "success story" for the franchise might have kept them together longer than they should have been.
What most people get wrong about their relationship
People assume they broke up over the old controversy. They didn't. They actually moved past that and built a real, long-term relationship. The eventual split in 2025 was much more about traditional "relationship stuff"—differing timelines on marriage and life goals.
It’s easy to forget that these are real people under the "influencer" veneer. When you spend four years with someone, you aren't just a "Bachelor couple" anymore; you're just a couple. And sometimes, couples just grow apart.
Moving Forward in 2026
If you’re looking for a new Matt James girlfriend to follow, you might be waiting a while. Matt seems focused on his brand, his philanthropy, and his sub-3-hour marathon goals.
What we can learn from this split:
- Social media is a lie: You can post romantic birthday tributes (like Rachael did just weeks before the split) and still be miserable behind the scenes.
- Timelines matter: If one person wants a wedding and the other wants another marathon, it’s probably not going to work out.
- Closure isn't always pretty: Sometimes you get it via a podcast interview or a late-night phone call months after the fact.
If you're still holding out hope for a reunion, don't. Rachael has been pretty firm that there is "no way" they are getting back together after the way things ended. Matt has remained mostly silent, choosing to let his running shoes do the talking.
For the latest updates on Bachelor Nation cast members or to see if Matt finally hard-launches a new relationship, you can check out the official Bachelor Nation news site. Keep an eye on the NYC marathon results too—that's usually where you'll find him these days.