Bachelor Matt James ‘REFUSES to speak’ to winner after he ‘blindsided & dumped her’ as show execs ‘got in his head’
BACHELOR Matt James has “refused” to speak to his season’s winner after “blindsiding” her with a recent breakup, a source exclusively told The Sun.
The ABC reality show will air its highly-anticipated Women Tell All special tonight as next week heads into Fantasy Suites with final three Rachael Kirkconnell, 24, Michelle Young, 27, Bri Springs, 24,
Follow all the latest news and stories on The Bachelor
Matt, 29, happily left the show in a relationship however, off-camera drama has led the TV personality to “blindside” his final lady with a sudden split.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
A source close to the reality star claimed that Rachael, 24, has been reaching out to Matt since they broke up post-show but he has since “shut her out.”
“He’s ignored her messages and won’t provide any answers from when he blindsided her with the split.
“The breakup came completely out of nowhere. He stood by her throughout the drama until he suddenly chose not to,” the informant added.
According to the insider, production “got to Matt” and “ruined” their relationship.
“He listened to producers who initially supported Rachael but became controlling and more unsupportive of them after Chris Harrison’s interview with Rachel Lindsay,” the source alleged.
They continued: “Once the network started getting canceled and not just Rachael, their tone changed.
“It seems they got in his head and convinced him that his image would be saved if he dumped Rachael. So that’s what he did.”
ABC did not immediately respond to The Sun’s request for comment.
Last week, The Sun exclusively revealed Matt didn’t get down on one knee during the finale but he was still “happy” with Rachael up until he suddenly called it quits.
The split came as online fury rages on over Rachael’s resurfaced photos from 2018 that show her attending an Antebellum-themed party.
“He previously had no issues with those photos until ABC kept pressing the issue.
“Matt expressed repeatedly expressed how bad he felt that people were not supporting Rachael and stood by her throughout.
“But it seems Matt decided that his image was being tarnished too much and he gave in,” the insider added.
That same day, Matt spoke for the first time about the show’s ongoing race issue that has Rachael and host Chris Harrison at the center – calling their behavior “devastating.”
He wrote in a statement: “The past few weeks have been some of the most challenging of my life, and while there are several episodes left of the season, it is important that I take the time to address the troubling information that has come to light since we wrapped filming.
“Including the incredibly disappointing photos of Rachael Kirkconnell and the interview between Rachel Lindsay and Chris Harrison,” the reality star wrote.
Last month, after being labeled “racist” by fans, Rachael broke her silence by apologizing for her “offensive” actions in a lengthy Instagram statement.
She took her plea a step further over the weekend when she filmed a tense eight-minute Instagram clip and admitted she was “tired” of “not saying anything” through the ongoing outrage.
Rachael then got a stern voice and looked seriously at the camera, saying: “If you are in my comments or anywhere defending me or telling people that I did nothing wrong or that there is nothing to be hurt or offended about, please stop.
Most read in Celebrity
“That’s not our place to tell people what they can and can’t be offended about. Thats wrong and that’s part of the problem so stop saying I did nothing wrong, that’s not true.
“If you really want to support me then encourage me to do better.”
She concluded her plea: “Thank you for holding me accountable. I am so sorry.
“I know that doesn’t change anything but I hope that I can earn your forgiveness and grace through my future actions. I’m done waiting around for a time to speak and I’m done hiding from all of this.”