Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell. Image Source: People
Matt James has some concerns when it comes to The Bachelor.
Matt James, who is currently promoting his memoir First Impressions: Off-Screen Conversations With a Bachelor on Race, Family, and Forgiveness, became The Bachelor for season 25 in 2021 and made history as the first black Bachelor in the history of The Bachelor, recently opened up about how his personal life and relationship with Rachael Kirkconnell were made into a circus. He recently shared with People that when he got to know that he is going to be the new Bachelor, he almost thought it was a joke but added that everything they have been through has prepared them for the future,
Matt James picked Rachael Kirkconnell towards the end of season 25, and it was rumored that the two had a brief break after the program concluded, but the couple reconciled and are going stronger than ever. Matt told the Los Angeles Times that his relationship had been turned into a slideshow, a circus, referring to Rachael Kirkconnell, who was accused of racism and received massive backlash on social media when photos of her dressed for an antebellum plantation-themed party in college went popular on social media after which they decided to take some time off and reflect on each other's journey but soon reconciled. During the interview, Matt James stated that Rachael and he have moved on from the events of the past and that they are happy and doing well together. They are now focusing on building their foundation and communicating better and said that just because they met on Television does not mean that their relationship is going to have TV timeline.
Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James are one of the only couples from that franchise that are still going strong and it's because they are not playing any games with each other and are taking their relationship at their speed. Rachael Kirkconnell expressed regret and recognized that she had made a mistake. Chris Harrison, the show's host, was sacked in June 2021 after defending Rachael and Matt concluded that it was "too much, too fast." Matt James recalled the incident and shared with People that it was insane and he felt that the world was against them and that some people thought the problem had been exaggerated, while others thought it hadn't received enough attention. They were simply wanting to enjoy each other and nurture their relationship without having to worry about strangers interfering.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Matt James' biography First Impressions: Off-Screen Conversations With a Bachelor on Race, Family, and Forgiveness avoids the problems that plagued his season. Matt revealed that there will be another Bachelor, and most likely a Black Bachelor as well, as well as another tell-all book, but he did not want his memoir to be more intimate which includes having conversations related to biracial identity, race, opportunity which did not make it to the final cut of the show.
Talking about his time on the show, Matt James said that it was not the right audience as his message was not the one that The Bachelor was trying to promote across their franchise, which according to him was fine. The Bachelor alum then blamed himself for being naive, claiming that Rachael and he were the ones who had the conversations. Matt said that the franchise is a group of people, however, he and Rachael are both individuals, so how do you hold a group of people accountable?
During the LA Times interview, Matt James also stated that while the franchise was at its peak, it did not make a concentrated attempt to participate in that discourse. Matt James explained that the chance was squandered because everyone was terrified and sat on their hands and that he understood why, but that's what happens when you invite people of color into your space. They should strongly consider not going there in the first place if they are unwilling to have that talk. He added that there are aspects of being black that non-black people can never comprehend and it gets just too much for them to bear. However, this is his life.
The author of First Impressions also blamed editing for viewers finding him "boring" and that he had "no personality," alleging producers had edited out more meaningful life talks he had with the women. When that didn't come over on the program, he claimed, it appeared as though he lacked substance or depth, which was not true. The Bachelor also stated that they had the opportunity to have those difficult talks, but that the program fell short, but that he understands everything. Regardless of how his time on the program went, Matt James came to the conclusion that one of the primary reasons he went on it was to find someone who was compatible with him, and he was able to do so despite the show's shortcomings.
Matt James' memoir is out now.
