Bachelor Nation's Rachael Kirkconnell Understands Recent Matt James Split Rumors

Members of Bachelor Nation can relax: Matt James and his longtime girlfriend are still together.

In fact, they have seen the recent rumors about their relationship, and find them a bit... flattering!

James and Rachael Kirkconnell met and fell in love during James' season of "The Bachelor" which aired in the fall of 2020.

James, 31, did indeed find lasting love with Kirkconnell, but his season of "The Bachelor" might be better remembered as the season which eventually lead to the franchise's longtime host, Chris Harrison, to step down from his position.

Bachelor Nation saw the couple decide not to get engaged on the season's finale on screen; however, the couple decided to briefly split amid the controversy going on at the time. By the time the season's "After The Final Rose" special had aired, the duo had broken up.

Photos of Kirkconnell, now-26, from 2018 surfaced featuring the graphic designer in attendance at an antebellum south college party. Harrison famously defended Kirkconnell's actions in an interview with Rachel Lindsay, who had been the only Black 'Bachelorette' in the franchise at the time.

The pair reunited in the spring of 2021, (per People), and are now frequently flexing their foodie sides on Instagram. The duo frequently reviews restaurants and tries new food fans can see in reels James frequently posts.

However, if one is spotted one too many times without the other, some Bachelor Nation devotees have raised their radar, wondering if they have quietly called it quits.

The duo's social media posts together are so frequent to the point where fans are noticing each other's absence.

After a series of photos on James' feed without Kirkconnell, he posted a reel of the duo reviewing a pasta restaurant in New York City. According to Life and Style, this may have been the couple's way of silently acknowledging the rumors.

A fan would acknowledge the rumors in their comment on the reel, writing "I'm so relieved to see y'all together whew I thought y'all were done. My heart can't handle it"

Now, Kirkconnell has publicly acknowledged the rumors, speaking to Us Weekly.

In the comments on a photo Kirkconnell shared from seven weeks ago, a follower shared their opinion on the couple's rumored split.

"Glad to see you posting more alone despite people’s questions. Women are more than their adjacency to men. I’m here for your individuality era single or not ??"

The reality star-turned-influencer may not be in her 'single girl season,' and she seemingly isn't bothered by fan curiosity either.

"I think we've been through so much stuff at this point that nothing phases us," Kirkconnell explained to the outlet. "I get it- because we're together so much so whenever our schedules don't line up or whenever we have our own things going on, I get where people come from. I do think a lot of it comes from a place of love," she goes on to share. "like, people were worried because they liked us so much as a couple. So, in a way, it was a little flattering..."

Kirkconnell also conveyed that it can be easy for her to forget there is an outside presence witnessing her relationship with James.

"But also, at the end of the day," she continued, "we're normal people [in] a normal relationship. It's kind of crazy sometimes when you see, you know, just how invested people are. In such a quick way, too. You're like, 'It's been a week! I haven't posted, in like, eight days, relax!''

Clarifying their relationship status likely won't stop fans from inquiring when the couple will take the next step: marriage!

Kirkconnell posted an Instagram carousel two weeks ago, featuring snaps of the duo attending a wedding. The comment section was soon filled with questions about when the couple would take the plunge!

"Y'all need to get married already!" an eager follower wrote.

"When are you guys getting married!!!!" another inquired.

"Stunning dress @rachaelkirkconnell and it’s time for you 2 already ??" a follower commented.

If Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell ever do tie the knot, Bachelor Nation fans can likely assume the couple will do it in their own way, just like they did by helping to redefine the 'Bachelor' franchise trajectory by exploring their relationship further before an engagement!