<p id=”par-1_71″>Rachael Kirkconnell was blindsided by the end of her romance with Matt James. The <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/the-bachelor/?swcfpc=1″><em>Bachelor</em></a> winner has spent years with James helping him build his career, believing marriage was on the table. She learned it was not an option <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/why-did-matt-james-and-rachael-kirkconnell-break-up-the-theories.html/”>while on vacation</a> as James ended the romance in Japan with Kirkconnell. While initially heartbroken, the Bachelor Nation alum has leveraged her heartbreak. Her recent social media partnership hilariously trolled her ex-boyfriend.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-large” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” fetchpriority=”high” width=”2000″ height=”1000″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rachael-kirkconnell-matt-james-the-bachelor-set.jpg?w=1024&h=512&strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James speak on the set of The Bachelor season 25.” class=”wp-image-2911624″ srcset=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rachael-kirkconnell-matt-james-the-bachelor-set.jpg 2000w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rachael-kirkconnell-matt-james-the-bachelor-set.jpg?w=640&h=320 640w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rachael-kirkconnell-matt-james-the-bachelor-set.jpg?w=768&h=384 768w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rachael-kirkconnell-matt-james-the-bachelor-set.jpg?w=1024&h=512 1024w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rachael-kirkconnell-matt-james-the-bachelor-set.jpg?w=1536&h=768 1536w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rachael-kirkconnell-matt-james-the-bachelor-set.jpg?w=1200&h=600 1200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rachael-kirkconnell-matt-james-the-bachelor-set.jpg?w=120&h=60 120w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rachael-kirkconnell-matt-james-the-bachelor-set.jpg?w=150&h=75 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px”><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James | ABC/Craig Sjodin</figcaption></figure>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-rachael-kirkconnell-pokes-fun-at-her-breakup”>Rachael Kirkconnell pokes fun at her breakup</h2>
<p id=”par-2_41″>Rachael Kirkconnell has partnered with Brawny. Kirkconnell uploaded a partnership video on Feb. 22 to <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGYcIlguARS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Instagram</a>. In the ad, Kirkconnell jokes that even though she no longer has to pick out the “perfect dinner spot,” life can still get messy. </p>
<p id=”par-3_40″>She goes on to praise having Brawny paper towels for those messy moments because of how “reliable” they are. She also admits that no matter what “surprises” come her way, she knows she can depend on the paper towel purveyor.</p>
<p id=”par-4_82″>The entire ad pokes fun at James, the trouble in their relationship, and their shocking split. During an appearance on <em><a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3qAkv3oruE” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Call Her Daddy</a></em>, Kirkconnell revealed that she spent a fair bit of time researching the spots she and James ate at so he could make his social media dreams come true. She also admitted that their relationship ended shortly after <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/rachael-kirkconnell-says-she-was-completely-blindsided-by-matt-james-breakup-why-are-fans-mad-at-matt-james.html/”>James disapproved </a>of one of her food picks. During the interview, she said she was shocked by the suddenness of their split.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-fans-and-bachelor-nation-alum-react-to-the-ad”>Fans and Bachelor Nation alum react to the ad</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AFR-Rachael-and-Matt.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James on ‘The Bachelor: After the Final Rose'” class=”wp-image-3764885″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James | Craig Sjodin via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-5_25″>Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James’ breakup initially shocked fans. Many believed that James’ Instagram account had been hacked after he posted his breakup announcement. </p>
<p id=”par-6_56″>Once the dust settled, many <em>Bachelor</em> fans admitted they never liked James and Kirkconnell together, though. Some fans theorized that James was never ready for a serious relationship and strung Kirkconnell along. Other social media followers took issue with how James used footage of Kirkconnell in his social media posts just hours before announcing the split.</p>
<p id=”par-7_63″>Now, they are reacting to Kirkconnell leveraging the end of her romance for financial gain. Most of Kirkconnell’s followers are here for the shade, insisting that the ad is the former <em>Bachelor</em> contestant’s best move yet. Even members of Bachelor Nation are weighing in. Jenn Tran, who led the last season of <em>The Bachelorette</em>, weighed in, too. She wrote, “Miss Rachael, you’re iconic.”</p>
<p id=”par-8_28″>As for James, he’s keeping quiet. While<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/matt-james-returns-to-instagram-weeks-after-rachael-kirkconnell-breakup.html/”> he has returned to social media, t</a>he TV personality has deleted his breakup post and is moving forward without mentioning Kirkconnell.</p>