Bachelor: Matt Says Rachael Has to 'Put in the Work' to Truly Change
Former Bachelor Matt James believes his former winner Rachael Kirkconnell needs to put in the work to change after her racially insensitive past surfaced online. Although Matt and Rachael were not engaged by the end, he did commit himself to her by asking Rachael if she would be his girlfriend. She agreed and was happy to start as a normal relationship rather than an engaged couple. Unfortunately, soon after filming wrapped, Matt felt he had no choice but to break up with Rachael after seeing what she did in her past.
Matt announced on the After The Final Rose special that he and Rachael have decided to go their separate ways after her racially insensitive pictures were leaked. The photos of Rachael showed her in 2018 attending an old-South antebellum-themed college party, as well as liking offensive pictures on Instagram, such as two friends posing in front of a Confederate flag. Matt felt he had to break it off with her so Rachael could understand on her own why the things she did in her past were wrong. Rachael understood his reasoning but still holds out hope for a reconciliation. Matt isn't so sure a reconciliation will ever happen.
During an interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast, the 29-year-old spoke about how Black people are not afforded the privilege of not knowing any better like white people are. Matt does not feel that should be an acceptable excuse for racist behavior from Rachael or anyone for that matter. He initially did not believe the rumors about his new girlfriend were true and brushed them off. After more evidence emerged, Matt had to reevaluate the relationship. "It's like I said on After the Final Rose when you see things like that, there are parts of me that [Rachael doesn't] understand, and you have to take a step back and allow that person to put in the work," he said to Bill, the podcast host. What Matt means by that is Rachael needs to educate herself on racism in America.
One of the first steps Americans should take is to step up is by hiring someone of color to help them understand the struggles Black people go through. "It's hiring a person of color or woman of color to show you the nuances of how to act and how not to act," he said. When Rachael was confronted by host Emmanuel Acho about her racist past, she admitted she did not think about the people she might be hurting due to her behavior. Matt was disappointed Rachael did not understand why those pictures were problematic, which prompted him to take a step back from the relationship. Bill pointed out there was a "fundamental misunderstanding or lack of knowledge that she has of things that are integral" to Matt. He felt the pressure to teach the audience why what Rachael did was wrong, and he did not sign up for that.
Matt did not feel it was his duty to teach Rachael and America how to treat people of color like decent human beings. The fact that Rachael did not understand why her behavior is wrong caused him to reevaluate his relationship with her. Matt may care for her deeply, but he knows she needs to put in the work to educate herself, so she understands where he is coming from and for Rachael to become a better person.
Sources: The Bill Simmons Podcast
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