Rachael Kirkconnell Hints She Was 'Completely Blindsided' by Matt James' Breakup Announcement

Rachael Kirkconnell has yet to speak on her shocking split from Matt James, but she has been shedding some light on the breakup.

The former Bachelor, 33, announced that he and Kirkconnell, 28, had gone their separate ways after four years together in a cryptic Instagram post on Jan. 16. He shared a prayer and asked for "peace about this decision to end our relationship."

While Kirkconnell has not released a statement on the split, she has been interacting with some comments on her most recent Instagram post, which happens to be a love-filled tribute for James' 33rd birthday.

Related: Matt James Was 'Talking Plenty' with T.J. Holmes About Proposing to Rachael Kirkconnell Before Their Split

Kirkconnell liked three different comments left by fans, including one that said simply, "I'm so sorry."

"Praying for you, babe ❤️‍🩹 for your peace and healing," wrote another fan, which Kirkconnell liked.

She also liked another comment which speculated that she wasn't prepared for the public announcement James made.

"The more I'm thinking about it the more I think he completely blindsided her with this," the fan wrote. "Give her some grace and let her respond in her own time."

The post that received the fan comments was a birthday tribute Kirkconnell wrote for James on Dec. 5, which praised him for being her "best friend, my teammate, my sous chef, the man that has my whole heart."

She wrote that she is "so thankful I get to dance through this life with you" as she shared a compilation of sweet moments with him.

The couple's recent trip to London also caused confusion among fans, as James had posted from a visit to a favorite pizza spot just 12 hours before he announced he and Kirkconnell had split.

Related: Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell's Relationship Timeline

James and Kirkconnell had been together for four years prior to their shocking breakup. They left his season of The Bachelor as a couple in 2020, 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 weeks later, though, and had been seemingly on the verge of a potential engagement.

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In February 2024, James told PEOPLE the couple were aligned about their plans to get married. “We wouldn't be together if that wasn't the same goal,” he said. “I'm definitely excited for what the future looks like with us."

He also said that, when it came time to propose, it would "be something special because Rachael's very special."

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