‘Bachelor’ Fans Furious At Matt James & His Fake Proposal

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Bachelor fans are furious with Matt James and his fake proposal to Rachael Kirkconnell. Keep reading for all the details on the phony engagement.

Controversial Bachelor couple still together

After giving Rachael Kirkconnell his final rose, Matt James didn’t propose to the brunette beauty. In fact, during that night’s After the Final Rose, he revealed that their relationship was over because of her racial insensitivity.

As Kirkconnell was becoming a frontrunner on the show, photos leaked online of her attending an antebellum-themed party in college. The ensuing social media storm swept up Bachelor Nation host Chris Harrison for his tone-deaf defense of Rachael. He ultimately parted ways with the franchise.

However, Matt and Rachael got a second chance at their storybook ending. After announcing their split on AFTR, they reunited weeks later and have been inseparable ever since.


a woman smiles as she lenas on a man's shoulder
Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James/ Credit: Rachael Kirkconnell/Instagram

Return to where it all began

The Bachelor Season 25 was filmed at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Clayton Echard’s season currently airing is the first Bachelor Nation show to return to the famous mansion since the start of the pandemic.

In mid-January 2022, Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James returned to the Nemacolin to reminisce. Matt’s mother, Patty James, accompanied the couple.


A young woman and man embrace an older woman
Rachael Kirkconnell, Patty James, and Matt James/Credit: Rachael Kirkconnell Instagram

The trip was documented on Matt and Rachael’s respective Instagrams.

Bachelor Fans Furious At Matt James & His Fake Proposal

Did Matt James bring his girlfriend back to the resort to propose? It seems there was a moment where he wanted her to think that. The reality star is notorious for his pranks and Kirkconnell was his latest victim.

The former college football star shared what was meant to be a funny video on his Instagram feed. “Am I wrong for this!?” he captioned the video.

In the clip, Rachael Kirkconnell stands in a hallway at the resort. James said he has something for her, as Kirkconnell giggles in anticipation. However, it wasn’t a ring he produced when asking, “Will you accept this…”

It was a nerf gun, which he used to blast a dart at her.

Fans of the franchise took to the comments to chide Matt James for the prank.

“You owe her a BIG ring for this,” one person wrote. “You need to marry her already!” another advised. His followers flooded the comment section with reactions. See what they had to say:

  • Her face says it all.. she was expecting something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!!!
  • Dayum she was waiting for that ring. You did her dirty
  • she looked so damn happy then PEE POW
  • Yes you are wrong. You owe her a big Dimond [sic] ring now!

He also received many comments warning him about payback and they were right. She got her revenge.

Rachael Kirkconnell gets payback

Despite the prank proposal, Kirkconnell was a good sport about the situation. Matt shared several clips on his Instagram Stories of her holding the nerf gun.

In one clip, she holds it menacingly at her man.


A woman points a nerf dart gun
Rachael Kirkconnell with nerf gun/Credit: Matt James Instagram

Do you think Matt James was mean for his prank proposal? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Bachelor continues Mondays on ABC with Clayton Echard.

Jennifer Havener
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