Back On... Again! Matt James Spotted With Girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell After Bachelor Left Her 'Heartbroken' Multiple Times
Here we go again! Former Bachelor Matt James and his winning contestant, Rachael Kirkconnell, are back together following a tumultuous past few months.
Kirkconnell confirmed their reconciliation in an email to WSJ Magazine, and according to the outlet, it's been "helpful" to have privacy while they navigate their relationship off-camera.
But are they really being private... or flaunting their 15 minutes of fame all over New York City? The complicated couple was photographed out for a spa day in New York City, getting manicures and pedicures at the membership-based manicure studio GLOSSLAB on Wednesday, May 5.
The studio shared a snap to Instagram of the duo holding up peace signs while getting their toes polished. They also shared a video to their Instagram Story, showing the handsome hunk getting a manicure while Kirkconnell sat beside him.
While James and Kirkconnell publicly broke up earlier this year — after Kirkconnell made headlines for her racially charged social media posts, which resurfaced while season 25 was airing — they appear to be back and better than ever!
"Matt and Rachael talk every day and have seen each other multiple times in the last few weeks," an insider recently told E! News, noting that "they reconnected while spending a whole week together in the O.C."
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Last weekend, RealitySteve shared photos of the two eating at Bear Flag Fish Co. in Newport Beach, Calif., and enjoying a night out at JuneShine in West Los Angeles.
As OK! reported, the duo appeared to be on good terms last month — as they were seen together in NYC — but their relationship hit another road block after Kirkconnell found out he was allegedly talking to another girl just days before their Big Apple meet-up.
"She is devastated and feels totally played by Matt," an insider claimed at the time. "Rachael really trusted that they could have a future together and is heartbroken."
However, after their week together in California, they decided to give their romance another go... again. "Matt felt horrible about what went down with him and Rachael recently and wanted to see her. He initiated the visit," an insider dished of their O.C. reunion.
Their recent outings together come after James gave his final rose to Kirkconnell during The Bachelor finale — and then ended their relationship. While Kirkconnell didn't leave with a ring on her finger, the lovebirds appeared to be head over heels for each other; however, their romance was cut short after photos of Kirkconnell attending an antebellum-themed party in 2018 resurfaced.
Kirkconnell has since apologized for her "racist" and "offensive" actions.
During the After The Final Rose special, James addressed the scandal head on while speaking face-to-face with Kirkconnell. After speaking to his former girlfriend about the photos, he said he realized: "Rachael might not understand what it means to be Black in America."
While discussing what James does need in a partner, he told WSJ: "I think the best way to put it is that we can have critical conversations about being in this relationship and what I need in a partner — especially if that woman isn’t Black — to understand what comes with me and my life and being Black."
