While season 25 of The Bachelor has yet to finish, but are certain that Matt James selected Rachael Kirkconnell. Kirkconnell drew attention to past controversial social media posts resurfacing. The posts, as well as other information about Kirkconnell, caused much backlash. 

Former The Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay has sadis he won’t renew her contract with the franchise as a result of Kirkconnell’s controversy mixed with other issues on diversity and inclusion with the series. Host Chris Harrison also left the show for now due to backlash over his comments of support for Kirkconnell. He has since apologized as well.

After weeks of silence, James finally spoke out. In an official statement, James explained that the weeks amid the scandal have been some of the “most challenging” of his life. He also said he wanted to address “troubling information that has come to light since we wrapped filming, including the incredibly disappointing photos of Rachael Kirkconnell and the interview between Rachel Lindsay and Chris Harrison.”

James also explained that living with the scandal in real – ime has been “devastating and heartbreaking.

Furthermore, he added of Harrison, “Chris’s failure to receive and understand the emotional labor that my friend Rachel Lindsay was taking on by graciously and patiently explaining the racist history of the Antebellum South, a painful history that every American should understand intimately, was troubling and painful to watch. As Black people and allies immediately knew and understood, it was a clear reflection of a much larger issue that The Bachelor franchise has fallen short on addressing adequately for years.”

Now, Reality Steve is alleging that James and Kirkconnell have split and HuffPost has confirmed it in an article as well. 

Kirkconnell and James will likely not address everything in full until the finale airs.