![Matt James Explains Why He Doesnt Feel Pressure to Propose to Rachael Kirkconnell](/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Matt-James-Explains-Why-He-Doesnt-Feel-Pressure-to-Propose-to-Rachael-Kirkconnell.jpg?crop=0px%2C43px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Rachael Kirkconnell
Rachael Kirkconnell was born and raised in Georgia. She graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2019 and worked as a graphic designer before becoming a contestant on season 25 of The Bachelor.
Following the January 2021 premiere of Matt James’ season, Kirkconnell came under fire when a TikTok user accused her of being racist in high school. She later made headlines when photos of her attending a plantation-themed college event resurfaced.
Bachelor Nation host Chris Harrison made waves himself in February 2021, after he chose not to speak out about Kirkconnell’s alleged racist actions before she could defend herself. He later apologized for his inaction following an explosive interview with Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. Kirkconnell, for her part, addressed the controversy via Instagram that same month,
“At one point, I didn’t recognize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that doesn’t excuse them. My age or when it happened does not excuse anything,” she said in her public apology, as her love story with James continued to unfold onscreen. “They are not acceptable or okay in any sense. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist.”
You might also be interested in:
Articles about Rachael Kirkconnell
![Matt James Explains Why He Doesnt Feel Pressure to Propose to Rachael Kirkconnell](/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Matt-James-Explains-Why-He-Doesnt-Feel-Pressure-to-Propose-to-Rachael-Kirkconnell.jpg?crop=0px%2C43px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
![Matt James Will Never Again Let Girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell Shave His Beard](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Matt-James-Will-Never-Again-Let-Girlfriend-Rachael-Kirkconnell-Shave-His-Beard.jpg?crop=0px%2C49px%2C1398px%2C791px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Matt James Lets Rachael Kirkconnell Shave His Beard: ‘Never Again’
![Celebrity Snow Bunnies](/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Celebrity-Snow-Bunnies-3.jpg?w=600&h=338&crop=1&quality=86&strip=all)
Celebrity Snow Bunnies! Stars Who Love a Winter Wonderland
![Matt James :: Them Beardles Campaign 368](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Matt-James-Them-Beardles-Campaign-368.jpg?w=600&h=338&crop=1&quality=86&strip=all)
Matt James Says Rachael Kirkconnell Is Now ‘More Accepting’ of His Beard
![Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Address Split Speculation Rumors His Mom Is on Golden Bachelor](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Matt-James-and-Rachael-Kirkconnell-Address-Split-Speculation-Rumors-His-Mom-Is-on-Golden-Bachelor.jpg?crop=0px%2C587px%2C1440px%2C813px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Even Matt James' Mom Worries He and Rachael Kirkconnell Broke Up
![Everything Tyler Cameron Has Said About Rachael Kirkconnell Amid Her Relationship With Matt James](/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Everything-Tyler-Cameron-Has-Said-About-Rachael-Kirkconnell-Amid-Her-Relationship-With-Matt-James.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Tyler Cameron, Rachael Kirkconnell's Quotes About Their Relationship
![Tyler Cameron and Rachael Kirkconnell Finally Explain Where Their ‘Beef’ Over Matt James Started star dress](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Tyler-Cameron-and-Rachael-Kirkconnell-Finally-Explain-Where-Their-‘Beef-Over-Matt-James-Started-1.jpg?crop=0px%2C16px%2C2000px%2C1130px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Tyler and Rachael Finally Explain How ‘Beef’ Over Matt James Started
![Promo Chris Harrison Lost 20 Lbs Amid Bachelor Exit Podcast Takeaways](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Promo-Chris-Harrison-Lost-20-Lbs-Amid-Bachelor-Exit-Podcast-Takeaways.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Chris Harrison Lost 20 Lbs Amid 'Bachelor' Exit, Says Wells Should Host
![Country Couple! Matt James, Rachael Kirkconnell Shine at 2022 ACM Awards](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Country-Couple-Matt-James-Rachael-Kirkconnell-Shine-2022-ACM-Awards.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Bachelor’s Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell: A Complete Timeline
![Rachael Kirkconnell Suggests Producers Didn't Want Her and Matt James Together](/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rachael-Kirkconnell-Suggests-Producers-Didnt-Want-Her-and-Matt-James-Together.jpg?crop=10px%2C133px%2C1311px%2C741px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Rachael Implies Producers Didn't Want Matt to Pick Her: Rare 'Bachelor' Quotes
![Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Support Tyler Cameron After Rift Rumors](/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Matt-James-Rachael-Kirkconnell-Support-Tyler-Cameron-After-Rift-Rumors.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Support Tyler Cameron After Rift Rumors
![Rachael Kirkconnell Slams Reporter Who Wrongly Claimed Matt James Was Single Good 10 Times](/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Rachael-Kirkconnell-Slams-Reporter-Who-Wrongly-Claimed-Matt-James-Was-Single-Good-10-Times-0001.jpg?crop=0px%2C5px%2C1764px%2C998px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Rachael Kirkconnell Slams Sports Announcer Who Called BF Matt James Single
![Tyler Cameron Sheds Light on Why He Clashes’ With Matt James Girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell](/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Tyler-Cameron-Sheds-Light-on-Why-He-‘Clashes-With-Matt-James-Girlfriend-Rachael-Kirkconnell.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Tyler Cameron Sheds Light on Why He ‘Clashes’ With Rachael Amid Matt Romance
![Prank Wars, Travel and No Timeline: Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Gush About Life After 'The Bachelor'](/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Matt-James-Rachael-Kirkconnell-Share-Secret-to-Success-After-Bachelor-01.jpg?crop=0px%2C490px%2C1254px%2C710px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Rachael Kirkconnell: The Only Timeline I Give Matt James Is for Kids
![Matt James Shades the Idea of Clare Crawley Dating Within Bachelor Nation](/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Matt-James-Shades-Idea-Clare-Crawley-Dating-Within-Bachelor-Nation.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=55&strip=all)
Matt James Shades the Idea of Clare Crawley Dating Within Bachelor Nation
![Matt James Didn’t Know He Was the 1st Black Bachelor When He Accepted the Gig and More ‘First Impressions’ Revelations](/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Matt-James-Didnt-Know-He-Was-the-First-Black-Bachelor-and-More-First-Impressions-Revelations-Feature.jpg?crop=0px%2C65px%2C1333px%2C752px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Matt James Didn’t Know He Was the 1st Black Bachelor, More Book Revelations
![Matt James Talks Plans Marry Rachael Everything Table](/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Matt-James-Talks-Plans-Marry-Rachael-Everything-Table-0001.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1707px%2C965px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Matt James Talks Plans to Marry Rachael: 'Everything's on the Table'
![Feature Matt James Book Details The Bachelor Cut Out Explains After the Final Rose Coldness With Rachael Kirkconnell](/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Feature-Matt-James-Book-Details-The-Bachelor-Cut-Out-Explains-After-the-Final-Rose-Coldness-With-Rachael-Kirkconnell.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1649px%2C932px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Matt James Details 'Real S--t' Cut From ‘Bachelor,' Explains 'AFR' Coldness
![Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd Hottest Couples on the 2022 ACM Awards](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Maren-Morris-and-Ryan-Hurd-Hottest-Couples-on-the-2022-ACM-Awards3.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1363px%2C769px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
Date Night! Hottest Couples on the 2022 ACM Awards Red Carpet
![JoJo Jordan Matt Rachael How Bachelor Nation Spent Valentines Day](/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JoJo-Jordan-Matt-Rachael-How-Bachelor-Nation-Spent-Valentines-Day-Feature.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)
JoJo and Jordan! Matt and Rachael! How Bachelor Nation Spent Valentine’s Day
![Matt James Rachael Kirkconnell Return Bachelor Filming Location](/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Matt-James-Rachael-Kirkconnell-Return-Bachelor-Filming-Location-Feature.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)