Matt James has opened up on how he was caught unawares by his girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell’s social media scandal that led to accusations of racism.
‘The Bachelor’: Matt James Recalls How He Felt When His Girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell’s Social Media Scandal Broke
The couple, for their part, could not be in a much better place now. But things did not start out this way during their time on ‘The Bachelor’ franchise.
During the course of the show, a series of social media pictures emerged online showing that Rachael had attended a plantation-themed party when she was in college.
This immediately led to accusations that she was perpetuating racism, which also had knock-on consequences for other members connected to the show. The former host Chris Harrison left the show after he received criticism for not condemning Rachael outright.
Not only that, but Rachel Lindsey had also received social media abuse, after fans accused her of treating Chris unfairly simply because of his response to Rachael’s comments.
And with so many things to contend with, it was understandable that Matt found it hard to process. In a statement, he said: “An anchorman caught me up on the weeks-long buildup that I’d shut out.
“Social media stuck disparate puzzle pieces together. The photo was the missing piece that brought the whole concocted image into focus. They declared Rachael a racist.”
Naturally, Matt had a very difficult decision to make. He could have walked away from Rachael altogether, especially since having a relationship with her could have been viewed as him endorsing her alleged racist behaviour.
And if he did walk away from her, then it would have been very difficult to contend with, knowing that there was such a clear chemistry between them. That is why Matt had decided to stay calm and console Rachael once the news broke.
He added: “Messages — horrible messages — had poured into her inbox. My only role in that moment was to console her. I assured her that I knew who she was, that this too would pass.”
It is great to see the pair having put this behind them. They have been through a lot together, but now they can focus on the future. So there you have it folks. What do you think about all of this? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
