Kirkconnell opens up about her painful breakup, revealing how Matt James ended things mid-flight

Rachael Kirkconnell is speaking out for the first time since her shocking split from Matt James, revealing the emotional toll the breakup has taken. The Bachelor alum, 28, took to Instagram Stories on Wednesday, thanking fans for their support while admitting that “everything feels scary and discouraging right now.”

In a heartfelt message, she wrote, “I believe everything happens how it is meant to, and I know it will be okay.” She described life as “messy and beautiful” and expressed gratitude for both its highs and lows.

Kirkconnell, who previously shared that she was blindsided by the breakup, also linked to her interview on Call Her Daddy, where she provided a detailed account of how James, 33, ended their relationship—mid-flight, just as their plane was taking off.

“Literally, the plane is taking off and I see his post, and that’s it. I don’t have any service for the next 12 hours, so I’m freaking out,” she recalled. “I just got broken up with, and now, hours later, the whole world knows while I’m still trying to process it.”

James reportedly told Kirkconnell that he simply didn’t see her as “his person” anymore, despite loving her and wanting the relationship to work. The breakup conversation was brief and final.

“He told me, ‘You’re beautiful, smart, funny. You’ll find someone. I’ll never say a bad thing about you. And yeah, we’re done,’” Kirkconnell recounted. Stunned, she gathered her suitcase, left the hotel, and headed straight to the airport.

The reality star admitted she had always wondered if James had doubts about their future, but the abrupt breakup still caught her completely off guard.

Adding to the confusion, James continued reaching out in the aftermath. “He kept calling every few days, checking up on me, to the point where I had to tell him to stop,” she said. “I don’t know if he felt guilty or just wanted to see where I was at.”

Despite the heartbreak, Kirkconnell is determined to move forward. “It’s a blessing to feel things and let them hurt,” she shared with her followers. “Love you guys.”