‘Bachelor’ Contestant Rachael Kirkconnell Just Addressed The Racist Actions From Her Past

From Women's Health

The Bachelor season 25 starring Matt James has had drama bubbling up at every turn. (Really, is there a hallway in the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort that doesn't spark a fiery feud?)

One of Matt's final four women, Rachael Kirkconnell, is still dealing with an off-screen controversy of her own. Post-filming, allegations of racist behavior from her past have come up. After weeks of debate about the photo receipts, Rachael has finally spoken out on social media.

Here's what you need to know about what's going on with Rachael Kirkconnell as she brings her family to meet Matt for a pandemic-safe version of "hometowns." (Btw, there's a major spoiler about how far Rachael makes it on The Bachelor at the end, so it's an even bigger deal.)

Rachael released a statement apologizing on Instagram.

After weeks of controversy and questions surrounding past racist behavior, including photos of her at an "Old South" fraternity party in college and other culturally appropriative costumes, Rachael shared on Instagram:

"While there have been rumors circulating, there have also been truths that have come to light that I need to address. I hear you, and I'm here to say I was wrong.

At one point, I didn't recognize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that doesn't excuse them. My age or when it happened does not excuse anything. They are not acceptable or okay in any sense. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist.

I am sorry to the communities and individuals that my actions harmed and offended. I am ashamed about my lack of education, but it's no one's responsibility to educate me. I am learning and will continue to learn how to be antiracist, because it's important to speak up in the moment and not after you're called out. If you are a person who doesn't understand the offense in question, I urge you to learn from my mistakes and encourage you to use them as a teachable moment.

As for my family, I love them and how they raised me to be my own individual. They have always encouraged me to have my own views, opinions, and beliefs.

As I was thinking about what I wanted to say, I couldn't help but think about how sick people must be of reading these kinds of statements; how a person didn't realize the trauma that their actions would inflict on other people. It must get so exhausting. I want to put my energy towards preventing people from making the same offensive mistakes that I made in the first place, and I hope I can prove this to you moving forward.

Racial progress and unity are impossible without (white) accountability, and I deserve to be held accountable for my actions. I will never grow unless I recognize what I have done is wrong. I don't think one apology means that I deserve your forgiveness, but rather I hope I can earn your forgiveness through my future actions."

She added in the caption: "*** my statement and apology is for the people of color that i have offended, if you do not identify as BIPOC then it is not your apology to accept or not. please be respectful to those who have been affected."

Chris Harrison defended Rachael on Extra—and instantly received backlash.

He asked for "grace," "understanding," and "compassion" in an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. He quickly drew criticism for insensitivity in regard to BIPOC contestants and viewers, as well as gaslighting Rachel and other Black women.

He later apologized for his responses: "To my Bachelor Nation family -- I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology. I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed."

"While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf. What I now realize I have done is cause harm for wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry."

Soon after the interview, an online petition calling for Chris' removal from the franchise was created. It has already received more than 40,000 signatures. Chris then followed up his original statement with another one saying that he would "be stepping aside for a period of time."

Other current Bachelor contestants have spoken out about the racism going on within the franchise.

In the wake of Chris' interview, Michelle Young, another frontrunner on Matt's season, shared a joint statement from the season 25 contestants denouncing racism on her Instagram stories.

"We are deeply disappointed and want to make it clear that we denounce any defense of racism. Any defense of racist behaviors denies the lived and continued experiences of BIPOC individuals. These experiences are not to be exploited or tokenized.

Rachel Lindsay continues to advocate with 'grace' for individuals who identify as BIPOC within this franchise. Just because she is speaking the loudest, doesn't mean she is alone. We stand with her, we hear her, and we advocate for change alongside her."

Ivan Hall, who competed on Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams' season of The Bachelorette, and his fellow contestants also shared a statement on social media standing with women of season 25.

"As members of Season 16 of the Bachelorette, it is important that we acknowledge where we stand at this time. We had the opportunity to be a part of one of the most diverse casts in the history of the franchise. The addition of more people who identify as BIPOC has opened up the conversation on race, community, and who we are as people. A conversation that has been long overdue."

SPOILER ALERT: Rachael goes all the way to the finale...

And, Reality Steve says she wins, and he's confident about that fact.

After weeks of uncertainty and listening to all the rumors coming from her hometown of Cumming, Reality Steve finally got the proof he needed to say Rachael wins Matt's heart and the final rose. The finale doesn't include a proposal, though. Reality Steve originally said: "Don’t know if they’re engaged... Matt chose Rachael and is still with her."

However, after the racist actions and photos from Rachael's past resurfaced on social media, Matt released a statement addressing the "incredibly disappointing photos of Rachael" and Chris' interview with Rachel Lindsay. In his Instagram statement, he denounced racism in The Bachelor franchise and said that it had "fallen short on addressing adequately" those issues for years.

Soon after Matt shared his statement, Reality Steve said on Twitter that he and Rachael are no longer together. "(SPOILER): Not that Matt’s statement wasn’t pretty clear itself, but I can confirm that Matt and Rachael have broken up," he wrote.

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