Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell was first seen in public on Wednesday since she was in controversy over her past racist social media posts.
The 24-year-old graphic designer was spotted in New York City wearing a sporty outfit just a day after spending time with ex Matt James.
Kirkconnell showed off her slim figure in a black cropped tank top with spaghetti straps that showed off her toned tummy.
Finally spotted: Rachael Kirkconnell, 24, was first spotted in New York City on Wednesday after her years-old racist social media posts came to light and a day after meeting her ex Matt James
She lightened up the muted look a bit with gray sweatpants, which she wore in her gorgeous white high-top Nike sneakers.
The reality star also had a denim jacket draped over her arm in case of a sudden cold snap.
She wore her dark locks parted in the middle and cascading down her back, and she wore a black cloth mask to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Sporty: Kirkconnell showed off her slim figure in a black cropped spaghetti strap tank top and gray sweatpants tucked away in her white Nike high tops
Kirkconnell showed off her slender figure in a black cropped tank top with spaghetti straps that showed her toned tummy
Her getaway comes after Instagram account Deuxmoi posted photos of Kirkconnell and her former flame James on Tuesday at a rendezvous in New York.
Despite the reunion, a source close to the situation told People that the pair are “ just friends. ”
Now back in the market, Matt has shifted his focus back to working on community projects, an insider close to him told People.
Spotted: Her getaway comes after Instagram account Deuxmoi posted photos of Kirkconnell and her former flame James on Tuesday at a New York rendezvous; Rachael and Matt pictured
Friends Only: Despite the reunion, a source close to the situation told People that the couple are “just friends”; Rachael and Matt pictured
Matt and Rachael started dating after they left as a couple on The Bachelor.
Despite no engagement, Matt and Rachael ended the show by confessing their love for each other and agreeing to continue their relationship off-camera.
However, it didn’t take long for the controversy to drive a wedge between the pair.
Controversy: James split from Rachael after photos surfaced of her attending a plantation-themed party, along with approving messages from her friends in pro-Trump MAGA hats
Photos of Rachael attending a plantation-themed party in 2018 surfaced, along with other problematic content.
The photos landed not only Rachael in hot water, but also host Chris Harrison, who defended the behavior in an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. This eventually led to his relinquishing the franchise.
Both Chris and Rachael have repeatedly apologized for their actions.
Ultimately, Matt and Rachael’s relationship didn’t survive the controversy, and the former bachelor admitted to ending the relationship after the photos surfaced.
Back: Now back in the market, Matt has shifted his focus back to working on community projects, the source said
Controversy: Chris Harrison landed in the middle of the Kirkconnell scandal after defending her during an interview with Rachel Lindsay
You want to believe that you know your person better than anyone else knows your person. This controversy swirls around who Rachael is and events she may have attended, photos she liked and people she’s associated with, ” he said on After The Final Rose.
‘I’m trying to be there for her, and I dismissed them as rumors because they were to me. You hear things that are heartbreaking and you just pray that they are not true. And then when you find out they are it, it just makes you question everything, ‘he added.
Discussing the ‘weight’ of seeing Rachael on the special for the first time, he told Good Morning America, ‘It hit me like a lot of rocks. I felt the weight of everything I carried with me all season and what we dealt with as a country, and I had to explain that – why I think it’s problematic for me and our relationship – which was extremely difficult. ‘
Not intended to be: Ultimately, Matt and Rachael’s relationship didn’t survive the controversy, and the former bachelor admitted he ended the relationship after the photos surfaced