Rachael Kirkconnell Gushed Over Matt James in Last IG Post Before Split

Rachael Kirkconnell was all in on Matt James in her most recent Instagram post.

“Happiest of birthdays to my best friend, my teammate, my sous chef, the man that has my whole heart,” Kirkconnell, 28, captioned a December 5 video montage of clips of the pair from throughout their relationship. “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.”

Kirkconnell went on to thank James, 33, for his “never ending [sic] love and support and smooches and snuggles.” She concluded the caption on an optimistic note, writing, “To many more adventures, happy birthday my pumpkin ♡.”

Kirkconnell continued to show her love in the post’s comments, telling fans, “EVERYONE PLEASE WISH @mattjames919 A HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYY love you baby.” James thanked his then-girlfriend for her birthday tribute in a comment of his own, writing, “I’m your pumpkin!? 🥹🎃 i love you too chicken.”

Prior to announcing their split via Instagram on Thursday, January 16, James shared several videos of himself and Kirkconnell trying a variety of food and drinks during recent trips to Japan, Canada, Aspen, Colorado, and London.

“Pizza pit stop for anyone traveling through London🍕🇬🇧,” James wrote alongside a Wednesday, January 15, Instagram clip of the two of them trying different kinds of pizza at Crisp Pizza W6. (James has previously shared footage from the pair’s travels via Instagram on a delay, so it’s unclear if they are still abroad.)

James broke the news that he and Kirkconnell called it quits by sharing a pic of the moment they met on season 25 of The Bachelor in 2021. “Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” he captioned the Thursday Instagram upload. “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 💔.”

Kirkconnell has yet to comment or share the post.

Kirkconnell earned Janes’ final rose on The Bachelor, though the two had split by the time the season’s After the Final Rose special aired in March 2021. At the time, James said they broke up after Kirkconnell’s past racially insensitive social media activity resurfaced. However, they reconnected just one month later.

The couple previously teased that they were ready to take the next step in their romance on an October 2024 episode of the “De-Influenced With Dani + Jordan” podcast. “I think that’s the next step,” James said of getting down on one knee. “Having had so many of Rachael’s friends go through engagements, I wouldn’t dare go look at a ring without consulting Rachael first.”

At the time, Kirkconnell joked that her left ring finger was “ready” to sport a diamond. “I feel that’s definitely something we want. I’m on his time,” she shared. “My problem is I definitely need to go find a ring I like and everything, but that’s on him at that point. … That’s a problem, I don’t even know what I want.”