Matt Jameshas a memoir coming out next month — and it’s already got his girlfriend,Rachael Kirkconnell, in her feelings.
On her Instagram Stories Thursday, the 25-year-oldBachelorwinner shared a video of herself with James' new book,First Impressions: Off-Screen Conversations With a Bachelor on Race, Family, and Forgiveness. Kirkconnell teared up while explaining how she “didn’t make it” through the book without getting emotional, referencing a previous post where she hoped to not cry while reading it.
After wiping away a tear, Kirkconnell added: “Maybe next time.”
In the book debuting on May 3, James actuallyopens up about his experiences with Kirkconnell. The 30-year-old recalled what transpired between them after Kirkconnell’s offscreen scandal occurred.
Rachael Kirkconnell/Instagram
Kirkconnell, who was a frontrunner on James' historicBachelorseason last year, came under fire after racially insensitive photos of her at a 2018 antebellum plantation-themed fraternity formal resurfaced online. She was also accused of other racially inappropriate behaviors, including allegedly liking racist social media posts and wearing a Native American costume.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
James “didn’t recognize the role that race would play between” the pair, but he recognized that he’s Black at the end of the day. “My partner would need to understand that — not just the fact of my race but also its many implications,” he added,
Though Kirkconnellissued an apologyamid the controversy, the duo eventually called it quits. Whileannouncing the splitduringThe Bachelor’sAfter the Final Rosespecial, James said it was “devastating and heartbreaking.”
One month after their breakup was publicized, James told PEOPLE thathe was “pursuing” a relationshipwith Kirkconnell again.
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While discussing the state of their relationship withExtralast August, the twosome saidthey prefer to “focus on each other"these days.
“It was a bit of a journey,” Kirkconnell said of the pair’s path toward reconciliation. “But I think we’re in a really good place. We’ve had a lot of love come our way, but I like to think that even though people have been super, super nice, we just like to focus on each other and put all of that aside and let that outside noise stay a little more quiet these days. So it’s been good though, we’ve been good.”
First Impressions: Off-Screen Conversations With a Bachelor on Race, Family, and Forgivenessis out May 3.
source: people.com
