The one-two punch of the three hour ‘Bachelor’ season finale addressed what happened between the contestant who received the final rose, Rachael Kirkconnell, and Matt James, who was the first Black bachelor in franchise history.
In the two-hour season finale, many viewers on social media were outraged that Matt let Michelle Young go, and sent her home, saying he could not get there with her, ahead of the day of the proposal leaving Rachael Kirkconnell as the last woman standing.

Photo: ABC
However through the finale, Matt was haunted by the words of his mother, who told him to be cautious due to her history with Matt’s father. This affected Matt so deeply, that in the end when it was time for Rachael to meet him for the proposal ceremony, he ultimately did not propose, but instead he gave her the final rose, and wanted to continue their relationship. Seemed like a happy ending? Not so fast.
As everyone who follows the show now knows, during the latter part of the season, photos of Rachael emerged of her attending an Antebellum-themed party in 2018, as well as her “liking” posts with racially insensitive slants. Later, Chris Harrison defended Rachael during an interview on Extra with Ex-Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. He then stepped down from his hosting duties for the After the Final Rose wrap-up episode. Enter Emmanuel Acho who hosted the final hour.
It was on After the Final Rose that viewers learned publicly for the first time that Matt had broken-up with Kirkconnell once the photos came to light and that he did it over a phone call with her.
When speaking with Acho about the photos, James explained that at first, “I dismissed them as rumors, because that’s what they were to me. You hear things that are heartbreaking … and you just pray they’re not true. And then, when you find out that they are … it just makes you question everything.”
Later, in the episode when Rachael and Matt saw each other for the first time since the break-up, Matt said to his now ex, “When I questioned our relationship, it was in the context of you not fully understanding my blackness and what it means to be a Black man in America. It broke my heart, because this is the last conversation I thought we’d be having. I didn’t sign up to have this conversation.”
When Acho pressed Rachael about her photos from the Antebellum-themed party, and what she sees now looking at them, she said, “I see someone who was living in this ignorance without even, like, thinking about who it would be hurting.”
Acho asked Matt if there was a chance at reconciliation which he shut down, saying Kirkconnell had work to do and she needs to do it alone. As Rachael cried, James added, “I don’t want to be emotionally responsible for those tears, ’cause it’s like, the work and the reconciliation that needs to be done is work that I can’t do for you.”
So, what did you think about Matt choosing Rachael over Michelle? Then, what did you think of the break-up of Rachael and Matt? Happy to hear it is over, or do you have a different opinion on the matter? Whatever the case, this season of The Bachelor, where it should have been inclusive, would up in the end being divisive. Comment below.